Modulating Embryonic Signaling Pathways Paves the Way for Regeneration in Wound Healing

The review explores how modulating embryonic signaling pathways, particularly Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog (Hh), can promote scarless wound healing and hair follicle regeneration in adult skin. It highlights that fetal and neonatal skin can heal without scars, a process researchers aim to replicate in adults. Key findings include the role of IL36a in promoting wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN) via the IL6/Stat3 pathway, the impact of Wnt-signaling in fibroblasts on hair follicle regeneration, and the dual role of Hh-signaling in different fibroblast lineages. The study suggests that increasing the density of papillary fibroblasts and reactivating embryonic signals can shift wound repair from scarring to complete regeneration, offering promising therapeutic approaches for improving skin healing and hair growth.