Swedish researchers are hoping to develop a genetic treatment for chronic wounds that fail to heal.
They have now discovered a microRNA that is involved in healing.
They say the substance, known as miR-132, may be an “attractive” proposition for developing treatments for chronic wounds.
Micro-RNAs are short pieces of genetic code that regulate the activity of genes.
Reporting in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers, from the Karolinska Institutet, show how miR-132 seems to be active throughout wound healing.
Healing can be slowed by excessive immune reactions causing inflammation – and the research showed that miR-132 becomes active at this point, reducing the number of immune cells that move to the wound.
It then becomes active for a second time and promotes the growth of skin cells, they report.
Researcher Dr Ning Xu Landén said: “Our results show that miR-132 is important during the transition from the inflammatory to the proliferative phase and therefore acts as a critical regulator of skin wound healing.
“Due to its pro-healing capacity, miR-132 may be an attractive therapeutic target for chronic skin wounds. Our goal is to develop a microRNA-based treatment to promote healing.”
MicroRNA-132 enhances transition from inflammation to proliferation during wound healing. J Clin Invest 29 June 2015; doi:10.1172/JCI79052
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