MicroRNAs in diabetic wound healing: Pathophysiology and therapeutic opportunities

Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2019 Apr;29(3):131-137. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2018.08.002. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Abstract

Diabetic wound healing is an incompletely understood pathophysiological state. It comprises a range of potentially devastating and common complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to intractable infections, lower extremity amputations, and associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators in various physiological processes in health and disease through their ability to fine-tune cellular responses. Herein, we summarize the versatile roles of miRNAs implicated in diabetic wound healing in key stages including inflammation, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and remodeling. Furthermore, we highlight current evidence through which miRNAs exert control of gene expression and signaling pathways in the reparative response that may provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention for this potentially devastating disease state.

Keywords: Diabetes; Wound healing; microRNAs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenic Proteins / genetics
  • Angiogenic Proteins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Diabetes Complications / genetics*
  • Diabetes Complications / metabolism
  • Diabetes Complications / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Complications / therapy
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / genetics
  • Re-Epithelialization / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wound Healing / genetics*

Substances

  • Angiogenic Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • MicroRNAs