Fibroblast Dysfunction and Immune Dysregulation Impair Palatal Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats
Li Pan1, Hong-Ning Wang2, Chao-Ming Hu3
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Disease and Biomedical Sciences and Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering, Higher Education and Stomatological Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Institute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
International Dental Journal
|September 12, 2025
Summary
Diabetes impairs palatal wound healing by disrupting immune responses, gene expression, and fibroblast function. This leads to delayed healing and offers targets for new diabetic wound care therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oral Surgery
- Wound Healing
- Diabetic Complications
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease known to impair wound healing.
- The specific mechanisms by which diabetes affects palatal wound healing require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus on palatal wound healing.
- To analyze inflammatory responses, gene expression, and fibroblast function in diabetic palatal wounds.
Main Methods:
- A palatal wound model was created in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.
- Wound healing was assessed using histology, immunohistochemistry, and RNA sequencing.
- Fibroblast function was evaluated through in vitro proliferation, migration, and ATP production assays.
Main Results:
- Diabetic rats showed delayed wound closure, impaired re-epithelialization, and reduced collagen formation.
- Transcriptomic analysis revealed pre-injury immune activation and exacerbated inflammation post-injury in diabetic wounds.
- Diabetic fibroblasts exhibited reduced proliferation, migration, and ATP production, indicating intrinsic dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes disrupts the temporal coordination of palatal wound healing.
- Immune dysregulation, metabolic suppression, and fibroblast dysfunction contribute to impaired mucosal repair in diabetes.
- Findings provide mechanistic insights for developing targeted therapies for diabetic wound care.
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