14S,21R-dihydroxydocosahexaenoic acid remedies impaired healing and mesenchymal stem cell functions in diabetic wounds

J Biol Chem. 2011 Feb 11;286(6):4443-53. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.100388. Epub 2010 Nov 26.

Abstract

Treatment of diabetes-impaired wound healing remains a major unresolved medical challenge. Here, we identified suppressed formation of a novel reparative lipid mediator 14S,21R-dihydroxydocosa-4Z,7Z,10Z,12E,16Z,19Z-hexaenoic acid (14S,21R-diHDHA) in cutaneous wounds of diabetic db/db mice. These results indicate that diabetes impedes the biosynthetic pathways of 14S,21R-diHDHA in skin wounds. Administration of exogenous 14S,21R-diHDHA to wounds in diabetic animals rescued healing and angiogenesis. When db/db mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were administered together with 14S,21R-diHDHA to wounds in diabetic animals, they coacted to accelerate wound re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and synergistically improved vascularization. In the pivotal cellular processes of angiogenesis, 14S,21R-diHDHA enhanced VEGF release, vasculature formation, and migration of db/db dermal microvascular endothelial cells (DMVECs), as well as remedied paracrine angiogenic functions of db/db MSCs, including VEGF secretion and the promotion of DMVEC migration and vasculature formation. Our results show that 14S,21R-diHDHA activates the p38 MAPK pathway in wounds, db/db MSCs, and DMVECs. Overall, the impeded formation of 14S,21R-diHDHA described in this study suggests that diabetes could affect the generation of pro-healing lipid mediators in wound healing. By restoring wound healing and MSC functions, 14S,21R-diHDHA is a new lead for the development of better therapeutics used in treating wounds of diabetics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Diabetes Complications / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Complications / genetics
  • Diabetes Complications / metabolism
  • Diabetes Complications / pathology
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / drug effects
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / genetics
  • Skin / injuries*
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*
  • Wound Healing / genetics
  • Wounds and Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Wounds and Injuries / genetics
  • Wounds and Injuries / metabolism
  • Wounds and Injuries / pathology
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases