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Tsukushi is involved in the wound healing by regulating the expression of cytokines and growth factors

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Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling Aims and scope

Abstract

During the wound-healing process, macrophages, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts play a leading role in shifting from the inflammation phase to the proliferation phase, although little is known about the cell differentiation and molecular control mechanisms underlying these processes. Previously, we reported that Tsukushi (TSK), a member of the small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan family, functions as a key extracellular coordinator of multiple signalling networks. In this study, we investigated the contribution of TSK to wound healing. Analysis of wound tissue in heterozygous TSK-lacZ knock-in mice revealed a pattern of sequential TSK expression from macrophages to myofibroblasts. Quantitative PCR and in vitro cell induction experiments showed that TSK controls macrophage function and myofibroblast differentiation by inhibiting TGF-β1 secreted from macrophages. Our results suggest TSK facilitates wound healing by maintaining inflammatory cell quiescence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Tanaka for his valuable comments, Mrs. Iimori for her technical assistance, and all members of our lab for their valuable help. This study was supported by KAKENHI Grant Numbers 21659268 & 25860957 and the Kumamoto University Global COE Program (Cell Fate Regulation Research and Education Unit).

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Daisuke Niimori, Rie Kawano & Kunimasa Ohta

  2. Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Daisuke Niimori & Hironobu Ihn

  3. Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan

    Kanako Niimori-Kita

  4. Global COE Cell Fate Regulation Research and Education Unit, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-0881, Japan

    Kunimasa Ohta

Authors
  1. Daisuke Niimori
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  2. Rie Kawano
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  3. Kanako Niimori-Kita
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  4. Hironobu Ihn
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  5. Kunimasa Ohta
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Correspondence to Kunimasa Ohta.

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Niimori, D., Kawano, R., Niimori-Kita, K. et al. Tsukushi is involved in the wound healing by regulating the expression of cytokines and growth factors. J. Cell Commun. Signal. 8, 173–177 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12079-014-0241-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12079-014-0241-y

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