Exploring the dermal "template effect" and its structure

Mol Biol Rep. 2013 Aug;40(8):4837-41. doi: 10.1007/s11033-013-2580-9. Epub 2013 May 9.

Abstract

Scar formation is the problem for clinic surgery. Recent studies showed that the scar formation was closely related to the dermal defect. Three-dimensional (3-d) structures of dermal tissues act as a template to modulate cell functions that are essential the regeneration of skin structure and function. The dermal tissue's integrity and continuity is a prerequisite for repair to take place. Loss of the dermal tissue integrity and continuity due to trauma leads to a lack of the template effect, which may be one important mechanism that hinders the recovery of cell function, resulting in scar formation. These studies give us two questions: what is the three-dimensional (3-d) structure of the dermal tissue? How do the tissues form? Up to now, it is well known that the molecular structure of collagen, the micro-structure of microfibril, however, the mesoscopic structure of dermal tissues is still unclear. Our recently rudimentary studies showed the problem might be resolved by phase-contrast micro-tomography with synchrotron radiation, which is likely to open new avenues for further investigations on wound regeneration and skin tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cicatrix / physiopathology*
  • Collagen / ultrastructure
  • Dermis / anatomy & histology*
  • Dermis / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / methods
  • Synchrotrons
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Wound Healing / physiology*
  • X-Ray Microtomography / methods*

Substances

  • Collagen