title: Connexin 43 deficiency accelerates skin wound healing and extracellular matrix remodeling in mice.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data substantiate the notion that connexin 43 may represent an interesting therapeutic target in dermal wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cogliati
authors.affiliation: Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vinken
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Cintia M M
authors.initials: CMM
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago P A
authors.initials: TPA
authors.lastname: Aloia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chaible
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia M C
authors.initials: CMC
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria L Z
authors.initials: MLZ
authors.lastname: Dagli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Connexin 43; Gap junction; Skin repair; Wound healing