PTEN Is a Master Driver of Healing Inhibition in Venous Leg Ulcers by Targeting Immune Response, Angiogenesis, and Lymphangiogenesis

This study investigates the role of PTEN in inhibiting healing in venous leg ulcers (VLUs) by affecting immune response, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Using multi-omic approaches, researchers analyzed tissue samples from healing and non-healing VLUs and acute wounds, identifying unique gene signatures in non-healing VLUs. Non-healing VLUs exhibited suppressed inflammation and lymphangiogenesis, linked to impaired cellular processes and reduced expression of specific chemokines and signaling pathways. PTEN was identified as a master negative regulator, with its inhibition shown to accelerate wound healing in murine models. The findings suggest that targeting PTEN and its downstream pathways could offer new therapeutic strategies for VLU treatment.