Altered Skin Wound Healing in Homeobox Gene Msx-2 Knockout Mice

The study investigated the role of the homeobox gene Msx-2 in skin wound healing using knockout (KO) mice. It was found that Msx-2 mRNA was induced during wound repair, and Msx-2 KO mice showed enhanced re-epithelialization and faster wound closure compared to wild-type (WT) controls. This improved healing was linked to increased keratinocyte motility and stronger collagen matrix contraction by fibroblasts in KO mice. The study concluded that Msx-2 may regulate skin morphogenesis during repair at both epithelial and mesenchymal levels, with KO fibroblasts showing altered responses to BMP4, indicating a disruption in the Msx-2 pathway.