Keratinocyte Dynamics Impact Redox Signaling in Sensory Neuron Regeneration

Core Concepts

Keratinocyte dynamics play a crucial role in modulating redox signaling during sensory neuron regeneration after burn injury, impacting tissue repair and sensory function.

Abstract

Epithelial damage triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling, affecting sensory neuron regeneration. Thermal injury impairs axon regrowth due to keratinocyte migration and ROS production. Osmotic regulation limits keratinocyte movement, spatially restricting ROS production, and rescuing sensory function. Keratinocytes are essential for early wound responses and long-term signaling organization during tissue repair.
Burn injuries increase peripheral sensory axon damage compared to mechanical transection. Burned larvae exhibit impaired axon density and lack of touch sensitivity post-injury. Real-time imaging shows immediate tissue response to thermal injury with keratinocyte migration linked to sustained axon damage. Inhibiting keratinocyte migration restores ROS production after burn injury, indicating the importance of regulated keratinocyte behavior for successful regeneration.
The Arp 2/3 inhibitor CK666 impairs basal keratinocyte migration post-burn, affecting ROS signaling. Isotonic treatment prevents excessive keratinocyte movement, restoring localized ROS production and improving sensory function post-injury. Early keratinocyte dynamics are crucial for spatial redox signaling control and efficient sensory neuron regeneration after burn injury.

Stats

Thermal but not mechanical injury impairs sensory axon regeneration.
Axon density decreases significantly in burned larvae compared to controls.
Burned larvae show lack of touch sensitivity post-injury.
Basal keratinocytes migrate rapidly following burn injury.
CK666 inhibits early basal keratinocyte migration post-burn.
Isotonic treatment limits excessive keratinocyte movement after burn.
Isotonic solution restores localized ROS production at the wound edge.
D-Sorbitol isotonic solution improves axon density and sensory function post-burn.

Quotes

"Early keratinocyte dynamics regulate the spatial and temporal pattern of long-term signaling in the wound microenvironment."
"Excessive ROS production in burned tissue is associated with uncontrolled keratinocyte movement."
"Isotonic treatment rescues epithelial morphology and reduces axon damage following thermal injury."

Key Insights Distilled From

Damage-induced basal epithelial cell migration modulates the spatial organization of redox signaling and sensory neuron regeneration

by Fister,A. M.... at www.biorxiv.org 03-15-2023

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.03.14.532628v2

Deeper Inquiries

How do other types of injuries impact the behavior of keratinocytes in the wound microenvironment

Other types of injuries can impact the behavior of keratinocytes in the wound microenvironment differently. For example, thermal injury triggers rapid and excessive collective migration of basal keratinocytes towards the site of tissue damage. This chaotic movement is associated with sustained axonal damage and elevated ROS production at a tissue scale. In contrast, mechanical injuries like transection initially lead to organized epithelial cell contraction at the wound edge without significant movement distal to the injury site. Understanding these differences in keratinocyte behavior following different types of injuries is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic interventions tailored to specific wound conditions.

Could targeting specific molecular pathways involved in regulating ROS production offer new therapeutic strategies for improving tissue repair

Targeting specific molecular pathways involved in regulating ROS production could indeed offer new therapeutic strategies for improving tissue repair. For instance, inhibiting Arp2/3 signaling using CK666 was shown to impair early keratinocyte migration after burn injury, leading to spatially restricted ROS production and improved sensory neuron regeneration. Additionally, osmotic modulation through isotonic treatment limited excessive keratinocyte movement post-burn, resulting in localized redox signaling and enhanced sensory function recovery. By manipulating these pathways that influence ROS dynamics during wound healing, researchers may uncover novel approaches to promote efficient tissue repair and regeneration.

How might understanding the interplay between cell migration and redox signaling in wound healing inform treatments for chronic wounds or neurodegenerative diseases

Understanding the interplay between cell migration and redox signaling in wound healing can provide valuable insights for developing treatments for chronic wounds or neurodegenerative diseases. By targeting mechanisms that regulate keratinocyte motility and subsequent ROS production, such as Arp2/3-dependent migration or osmotic modulation effects on cellular swelling-induced migration patterns, it may be possible to modulate inflammatory responses and enhance tissue repair processes effectively. These findings could have implications beyond acute wounds by offering innovative strategies for managing chronic non-healing wounds or promoting regenerative therapies for neurodegenerative conditions where redox imbalance plays a critical role in disease progression.