Dynamic Role of Oxygen in Wound Healing: A Microbial, Immunological, and Biochemical Perspective

Abstract

A wound is a temporary break in the continuity of the protective skin barrier. Wound healing is central in maintaining the body’s normal homeostatic mechanism, and open wounds raise the risk of microbial infection and amputation. A successful wound healing event is achieved through a series of evolutionarily conserved biochemical pathways orchestrated by various cytokines, growth factors, and immune cells. Chronic wounds are generally oxygen-deficient, and wound hypoxia impairs the wound healing process. Therefore, the use of external oxygen may improve wound health by reducing wound hypoxia, promoting tissue regeneration and granulation tissue formation, reducing anaerobic bacteria colonization, and promoting the growth of beneficial aerobic bacteria. Relevant data were searched and gathered from scientific databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords, such as “Chronic Wounds”, “Topical Oxygen Therapy”, “Inflammatory Markers/ Lactate/ Matrix Metalloproteinase”, “Collagen”, and “Wound Healing”. Relevant articles were shortlisted and used in the present study. Chronic wounds show higher expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as C-reactive protein, and higher levels of tissue-degrading matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, chronic wounds are generally oxygen-deficient, and wound hypoxia is directly associated with wound deterioration. Several microbial, immunological, and biochemical markers show a direct association with the oxygen availability in the wound. Therefore, a detailed understanding of these microbial, immunological, and biochemical markers will certainly help clinicians understand the interplay between various factors and topical oxygen therapy and may improve patient outcomes.

Keywords

• topical oxygen therapy
• chronic wounds
• wound hypoxia
• wound healing markers
• skin microflora