Researchers have identified a novel family of chemical mediators that restore the reparative functions of macrophages so they can resolve inflammation and heal wounds.
Researchers discovered molecules called Maresin-Ls, which promote wound healing and reduce inflammation, are produced by leukocytes and platelets, as well as enzymes needed in the cells to produce these molecules. The researchers demonstrated that treatment by these molecules restores reparative functions to diabetic macrophages and enables the cellular process for wound healing while suppressing chronic inflammation associated with non-healing diabetic wounds.
“The delayed- or non-healing of wounds leads to pain, disability and poor quality of life for the patients,” Song Hong, PhD, an associate professor at Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, stated in a press release. “These findings may provide a fundamental insight in to the roles of leukocytes and platelets in wound healing and offer a therapeutic option for using maresin-L-rescued diabetic macrophages for better treatment of diabetic wounds or other impaired repair of injury.”
For more information:
Song H. Chemistry Biology. 2014;doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.06.010.
Disclosure: See the full study for authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
