Gene Expression Linked to Reepithelialization of Human Skin Wounds.

Our understanding of the regulatory processes of reepithelialization during wound healing is incomplete. In an attempt to map the genes involved in epidermal regeneration and differentiation, we measured gene expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded standardized epidermal wounds induced by the suction-blister technique with associated nonwounded skin using NanoString technology. The transcripts of 139 selected genes involved in clotting, immune response to tissue injury, signaling pathways, cell adhesion and proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, zinc transport and keratinocyte differentiation were evaluated. We identified 22 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in descending order of fold change (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and ). The expression of the most upregulated gene, , correlated strongly with followed by and . rhIL-1β, but not rhIL-6, exposure of cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes and normal human dermal fibroblasts increased both mRNA and MMP-1 protein levels, as well as mRNA levels. The increased in wounds was validated by immunohistochemistry. The six downregulated DEGs (, , , , and ) were associated with epidermal maturation. showed the strongest correlation with mRNA levels and is a potential biomarker for keratinocyte proliferation. The observed gene expression changes correlate well with the current knowledge of physiological reepithelialization. Thus, the gene expression panel described in this paper could be used in patients with impaired healing to identify possible therapeutic targets.