Role of Vitamin D and Calcium in Epidermal Wound Repair

The study highlighted the essential roles of vitamin D and calcium in epidermal wound repair, noting that deficiencies in these nutrients or their receptors led to delayed healing. This delay was attributed to reduced stem cell numbers and activation in both hair follicles and interfollicular epidermis. The formation of the E-cadherin/catenin complex, regulated by vitamin D and calcium, was crucial for epidermal differentiation, stem cell niche maintenance, and the movement of stem cell progeny for wound re-epithelialization. Additionally, catenin b1 signaling, diminished in the absence of vitamin D receptors, was necessary for stem cell activation and proliferation in response to wounding. Thus, vitamin D and calcium were vital for stem cell maintenance, activation, migration, and differentiation during wound repair.