Fetal Skin Wound Healing

The document from 2009 examines the unique characteristics of fetal skin wound healing, which allows for scarless repair, in contrast to adult wound healing that typically results in scarring. It identifies key differences in the wound healing process, such as the inflammatory response, cellular mediators, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix (ECM) modulators. Fetal skin has a developing ECM that facilitates cellular migration and is characterized by fine reticular collagen and abundant hyaluronic acid. The paper also discusses the role of fibroblasts, which in fetal skin have a greater ability to synthesize ECM components and have different surface receptors and growth factor expressions compared to adult fibroblasts. The document suggests that understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of scarless fetal wound healing could lead to therapeutic strategies to reduce scarring in adult wounds. It also notes that scarless repair is intrinsic to fetal skin, organ-specific, and dependent on gestational age and wound size. The presence of unique cell types and stem cells, such as Dot cells, and the reduced number and function of inflammatory mediators like platelets and neutrophils in fetal wounds are also highlighted as contributing factors to scarless healing.