A Paradigm of Fibroblast Activation and Dermal Wound Contraction to Guide the Development of Therapies for Chronic Wounds and Pathologic Scars

摘要

SignificanceDelayed wound healing and pathologic scarring are abnormal processes that can be thought of as occurring on a wound healing continuum, where insufficient wound contraction leads to nonhealing wounds, and overexuberant wound contraction leads to scarring. Chronic nonhealing wounds, including diabetic foot wounds, decubitus ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers, affect millions of people annually in the United States and costs billions of dollars. Similarly, pathologic scaring affects more than 40 million Americans annually and also costs billions of dollars.