Interleukin-10 Derived Apoptotic Vesicles Enhance Scarless Skin Healing by Modulating Fibroblast Metabolism and Fibrosis Pathways

October 2025 in “ Cell Proliferation ”

Yongxin Zou, Jinglun Zhang, Wenxuan Mao, Shuting Jiang, Cheng Xu, Jie Meng, Heng Dong, Yongbin Mou

interleukin-10 apoptotic vesicles fibroblasts mitochondrial function oxidative phosphorylation glycolytic activity Hedgehog signalling pathway fibrogenesis extracellular matrix collagen type III collagen type I collagen regenerative medicine metabolic pathways antifibrotic pathways

Studysummary In laboratory research, investigators found that apoptotic vesicles from interleukin-10-treated fibroblasts promote wound healing and reduce fibrotic scarring by enhancing mitochondrial function, modulating collagen composition, and inhibiting the Hedgehog signalling pathway, offering potential for regenerative medicine applications.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

This study explores the potential of interleukin-10 derived apoptotic vesicles (IL10_ApoEVs) in promoting scarless skin healing by modulating fibroblast metabolism and fibrosis pathways. IL10_ApoEVs enhance mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and suppress glycolysis, leading to a metabolic shift that favors tissue regeneration over fibrosis. The treatment downregulates pro-fibrotic signaling pathways, such as TGF-β and Hedgehog, while promoting the synthesis of type III collagen, which supports a more elastic and functional tissue matrix. Tested on rat skin defects, IL10_ApoEVs accelerated wound closure, enhanced re-epithelialization, and reduced fibrosis, suggesting their potential as precision modulators for functional and cosmetically favorable skin repair. However, challenges remain in optimizing the yield and purity of IL10_ApoEVs for clinical applications.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

7 / 7 results

research Clinical, Mechanistic, and Therapeutic Landscape of Cutaneous Fibrosis

16 citations , September 2024 in “Science Translational Medicine”

This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding, managing, and addressing skin fibrosis, highlighting common pathways and new therapeutic opportunities for various fibrosis-related disorders that currently lack effective treatments.

research Cell Death as an Architect of Adult Skin Stem Cell Niches

April 2024 in “Cell death and differentiation”

This study discusses how different modes of regulated cell death in keratinocytes affect skin stem cell niches, and their role in skin inflammation, injury repair, and cancer, based on findings from human dermatological conditions and experimental mouse models.

research Apoptotic Dysregulation Mediates Stem Cell Competition and Tissue Regeneration

November 2023 in “Nature Communications”

This study reported that depleting the pro-apoptotic protein Bax in hair follicle stem cells enables these cells to kill nearby viable cells by sequestering TNFα, which increases the stem cell pool and accelerates tissue regeneration, suggesting potential implications for therapies targeting tissue repair and cancer.

research Dissecting the Microenvironment Around Biosynthetic Scaffolds in Murine Skin Wound Healing

66 citations , May 2021 in “Science Advances”

In this study, researchers found that electrospun membranes with aligned surface topography advanced the immune response towards an adaptive stage and highlighted the role of T cells in hair follicle regeneration in mice, showcasing the intricate interactions between immune and skin cells.

research Hair-Bearing Human Skin Generated Entirely From Pluripotent Stem Cells

425 citations , June 2020 in “Nature”

Scientists created human skin with hair from stem cells, which could help treat hair loss and skin conditions.

research The Therapeutic Promise of Apoptosis

9 citations , March 2019 in “Science”

Blocking cell death in certain stem cells can improve wound healing and tissue regeneration.

research Hedgehog Stimulates Hair Follicle Neogenesis by Creating Inductive Dermis During Murine Skin Wound Healing

145 citations , November 2018 in “Nature Communications”

This study found that activating the Sonic hedgehog pathway in scarring wounds can remodel the dermis to promote hair follicle regeneration, highlighting a potential new approach to enhance healing.