Biphasic expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 during human wound healing.
BACKGROUND
Chemokines tightly regulate the spatial and temporal infiltration of invading leucocyte subsets during wound healing. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) is a homeostatic chemokine with multiple functions; its role during cutaneous wound healing, however, needs to be explored.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate expression of the multifunctional CXC chemokine SDF-1/CXCL12 during human wound healing.


METHODS
Skin biopsies were obtained from 14 volunteers between 1 and 21 days after incisional wounding and processed for in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
We analysed the spatial and temporal distribution of SDF-1/CXCL12 after artificial wounding and detected a complete downregulation at both the mRNA and the protein level within the fibrous stroma that replaces the initial wound defect. However, increased levels of SDF-1/CXCL12 were observed at the wound margins. Focusing on mediators regulating SDF-1/CXCL12 expression in vitro we realized that both tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma downregulated its expression in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that SDF-1/CXCL12 is tightly regulated during wound repair. Increased expression at the wound margin may contribute to the accumulation of endothelial progenitor cells, thus accelerating neovascularization.
Toksoy
A
A
Department of Dermatology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Müller
V
V
Gillitzer
R
R
Goebeler
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha