Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Nov 2024)

Mechanism of cold exposure delaying wound healing in mice

  • Fu-Xing-Zi Li,
  • Jun-Jie Liu,
  • Li-Min Lei,
  • Ye-Hui Li,
  • Feng Xu,
  • Xiao Lin,
  • Rong-Rong Cui,
  • Ming-Hui Zheng,
  • Bei Guo,
  • Su-Kang Shan,
  • Ke-Xin Tang,
  • Chang-Chun Li,
  • Yun-Yun Wu,
  • Jia-Yue Duan,
  • Ye-Chi Cao,
  • Yan-Lin Wu,
  • Si-Yang He,
  • Xi Chen,
  • Feng Wu,
  • Ling-Qing Yuan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-024-03009-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 18

Abstract

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Abstract Cold temperatures have been shown to slow skin wound healing. However, the specific mechanisms underlying cold-induced impairment of wound healing remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that small extracellular vesicles derived from cold-exposed mouse plasma (CT-sEVs) decelerate re-epithelialization, increase scar width, and weaken angiogenesis. CT-sEVs are enriched with miRNAs involved in the regulation of wound healing-related biological processes. Functional assays revealed that miR-423-3p, enriched in CT-sEVs, acts as a critical mediator in cold-induced impairment of angiogenic responses and poor wound healing by inhibiting phosphatase and poly(A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1). These findings indicate that cold delays wound healing via miR-423-3p in plasma-derived sEVs through the inhibition of the ERK or AKT phosphorylation pathways. Our results enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which cold exposure delays soft tissue wound healing.

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