| First Author | Parella K | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Sci Rep | Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 9923 |
| PubMed ID | 37337031 | Mgi Jnum | J:338632 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7492961 | Doi | 10.1038/s41598-023-36933-4 |
| Citation | Parella K, et al. (2023) HOXA3 accelerates wound healing in diabetic and aged non-diabetic mammals. Sci Rep 13(1):9923 |
| abstractText | Chronic wounds are characterized by a persistent, hyper-inflammatory environment that prevents progression to regenerative wound closure. Such chronic wounds are especially common in diabetic patients, often requiring distal limb amputation, but occur in non-diabetic, elderly patients as well. Induced expression of HoxA3, a member of the Homeobox family of body patterning and master regulatory transcription factors, has been shown to accelerate wound closure in diabetic mice when applied topically as a plasmid encased in a hydrogel. We now provide independent replication of those foundational in vivo diabetic wound closure studies, observing 16% faster healing (3.3 mm wounds vs 3.9 mm wounds at Day 9 post original injury of 6 mm diameter) under treatment with observable microscopic benefits. We then expand upon these findings with minimal dose threshold estimation of 1 mug HoxA3 plasmid delivered topically at a weekly interval. Furthermore, we observed similarities in natural wound healing rates between aged non-diabetic mice and young diabetic mice, which provided motivation to test topical HoxA3 plasmid in aged non-diabetic mice. We observed that HoxA3 treatment achieved complete wound closure (0 mm diameter) at 2 weeks whereas untreated wounds were only 50% closed (3 mm wound diameter). We did not observe any gross adverse effects macroscopically or via histology in these short studies. Whether as a plasmid or future alternative modality, topical HoxA3 is an attractive translational candidate for chronic wounds. |
