Ephrin-A2 affects wound healing and scarring in a murine model of excisional injury

Publication date: Available online 25 October 2018Source: BurnsAuthor(s): Dulharie Wijeratne, Jennifer Rodger, Andrew Stevenson, Hilary Wallace, Cecilia M. Prêle, Fiona M. Wood, Mark W. FearAbstractEphrin ligand/Eph receptor signaling is important in both tissue development and homeostasis. There is increasing evidence that Ephrin/Eph signaling is important in the skin, involved in hair follicle cycling, epidermal differentiation, cutaneous innervation and skin cancer. However, there is currently limited information on the role of Ephrin/Eph signaling in cutaneous wound healing. Here we report the effects of the Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands on wound healing. Using Ephrin-A2−/−, Ephrin-A5−/− and Ephrin-A2A5−/− transgenic mice, in vitro wound healing assays were conducted using isolated keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Ephrin-A2−/−, Ephrin-A2A5−/− and wild type mice with excisional wounds were used to analyze the impact of these ligands on wound closure, scar outcome, collagen orientation and re-innervation in vivo.The absence of the Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands did not have any effect on dermal fibroblast proliferation or on fibroblast or keratinocyte migration. The loss of Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands did not impact on the rate of wound closure or re-innervation after injury. However, changes in the gross morphology of the healed scar and in collagen histology of the scar dermis were observed in transgenic mice. Therefore Ephrin-A2 and A5 ligands may play an important ...

Source: Burns - October 26, 2018 Category: Dermatology Source Type: research