title: EGFL7-overexpressing epidermal stem cells promotes fibroblast proliferation and migration via mediating cell adhesion and strengthening cytoskeleton.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family members mediate a wide range of biological activities including cell proliferation and migration. Increasing evidence indicated that EGF plays an important role in the process of wound healing by stimulating fibroblast motility. The aim of this study was to see whether EGF-like domain 7 (EGFL7)-overexpressing epidermal stem cells (EGFL7-ESCs) would promote fibroblast proliferation and migration. We found that mRNA and protein levels of EGFL7 expression were significantly increased in EGFL7-ESCs. The protein expression of EGFL7 was significantly elevated in conditioned media (CM) of EGFL7-ESCs compared to ESCs CM or vector-ESCs CM. The cell count and cell viability of EGFL7-ESCs CM-treated fibroblasts were also significantly increased compared to control. In addition, EGFL7-ESCs CM-treated fibroblasts showed elevated migration compared with control. Moreover, the expressions of β1-integrin, β-tubulin, β-actin, and Vimentin were increased, while that of E-cadherin was decreased in EGFL7-ESCs CM-treated fibroblasts. These results indicate that EGFL7-ESCs contribute towards promoting fibroblast migration through enhancing cell adhesion, strengthening cytoskeleton, and reducing intercellular aggregation. These findings suggest that the stimulating effect of EGFL7-ESCs on fibroblast proliferation and migration may provide a useful strategy for wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Hai
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Peng
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Feng-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, Guangdong, China. xiaodongchenn@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong, China. julinxiee@sina.com.
authors.forename: Ju-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; C527877:EGFL7 protein, human; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors
keywords: EGFL7; Epidermal stem cells; Migration; Proliferation; Wound healing