title: Kcnh2 and Kcnj8 interactively regulate skin wound healing and regeneration.
abstract: Previous studies indicate that ion channels are mediators of bioelectricity promoting wound closure/regeneration in nonmammalian, lower vertebrate systems. The role of ion channels however in regeneration of wounds in mammalian systems that do not regenerate as adults is not yet defined. Using a mammalian model system that allows us to determine differentially expressed genes when skin regenerates and when skin does not regenerate after wound induction, we identified two potassium channels, kcnh2 and kcnj8, to be (1) differentially expressed between the two states and (2) highly expressed after wound induction at the nonregenerative state. We also found that kcnh2 small molecule inhibitor enhanced wound healing while kcnj8 small molecule inhibitor did not. In contrast, kcnj8 activator accelerated wound healing and even augmented the effect of kcnh2 inhibition. These results provide evidence for the first time that potassium channels may mediate skin wound healing and regeneration interactively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.|Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Wengeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.|Shriners Burns Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Center for Surgery, Innovation and Biotechnology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012038:Regeneration; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels