A new study published in Cell, led by SRF-funded investigator Michael Longaker, MD, found that activating specific biological pathways involved in wound healing may significantly reduce scar formation after injury or surgery. Although the research was focused on how wounds heal, the study’s results may have implications for understanding diseases marked by excessive scarring, such as scleroderma.
Scarring is not merely cosmetic, as fibrosis can interfere with normal tissue function and is linked to serious disease affecting organs such as the lungs, liver, and heart, which makes it especially relevant to people living with scleroderma.
“There’s not a million ways to form a scar. This and previous other findings in my lab suggest there are common mechanisms and culprits regardless of the tissue type,” Dr. Longaker explains. By identifying the cellular pathways that drive a less-fibrotic healing response, the team demonstrated that similar regenerative healing may be possible beyond the face.
This study is the latest example of how SRF-funded research—which actively seeks out and recruits experts across many disciplines—can drive discoveries that deepen understanding of disease mechanisms and ultimately inform new approaches to treating scleroderma.
