The JAK/STAT signaling pathway and photobiomodulation in chronic wound healing

Abstract

Wound healing is a physiological process that occurs in overlapping phases namely hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Chronic wounds fail to proceed through these reparative processes to achieve the functional integrity within the expected time. Wound healing relies upon growth factors and cytokines for the precise and accurate regulation of cellular responses. These are achieved through the use of complex growth factor/cytokine induced signaling pathways. The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway transmits extracellular signals to the nucleus for the transcription of genes involved in proliferation and differentiation, to name but a few. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is an emerging area of interest within the scientific community and researchers are currently exploring its underlying mechanism and the associated signaling pathways involved. PBM is a light based therapy making use of low powered lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs) to enhance tissue repair, and reduce pain and inflammation. Current conventional treatments for chronic wounds are frequently associated with failure and have limited therapeutic efficacy. Thus there is a need for efficient wound healing interventions and the identification and development of new treatments is required. In this review we summarize the involvement of JAK/STAT signaling and PBM in chronic wounds.

Keywords: Cellular signals; Cytokines; Growth factors; JAK/STAT; Photobiomodulation; Wound healing.