Connexin 43 deficiency accelerates skin wound healing and extracellular matrix remodeling in mice

Background: Cellular channels composed of connexin 43 are known to act as key players in the life cycle of the skin and consequently to underlie skin repair. Objective: This study was specifically set up to investigate the suite of molecular mechanisms driven by connexin 43-based channels on wound healing. Methods: To this end, a battery of parameters, including re-epithelialization, neovascularization, collagen deposition and extracellular matrix remodeling, was monitored over time during experimentally induced skin repair in heterozygous connexin 43 knockout mice. Results: It was found that connexin 43 deficiency accelerates re-epithelialization and wound closure, increases proliferation and activation of dermal fibroblasts, and enhances the expression of extracellular matrix remodeling mediators. Conclusion: These data substantiate the notion that connexin 43 may represent an interesting therapeutic target in dermal wound healing. (C) 2015 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.