Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the United States have developed a regenerative medical therapy that accelerates diabetic wound healing. The therapy utilizes tiny fat particles loaded with genetic instructions to alleviate inflammation. The results indicate that this therapy can target problematic cells and reduce swelling and harmful molecules in a mouse skin injury model. The related paper was published online on the 20th in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Compared to untreated mice, mice treated with lipid nanoparticles derived from trisulfide showed accelerated wound healing in mRNA therapy.
Image Source: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
Diabetic wounds often exhibit resistance to conventional treatments, posing a serious health risk to millions worldwide. Macrophages in the body are meant to play a positive role in immunity, but in certain cases, they can trigger inflammatory responses. This inflammation can damage other cells, making wound healing more challenging.
The new therapy utilizes lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) loaded with RNA encoding IL-4, targeting dysfunctional macrophages while reducing inflammation and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diabetic wounds. IL-4 is a cytokine, a cell-signaling protein.
ROS molecules are naturally produced in various metabolic processes in the body and play a role in cell signaling and immune responses. However, excessive ROS can lead to oxidative stress, damaging cells, proteins, and DNA. This stress is associated with various diseases and symptoms like inflammation and aging.
Preclinical models demonstrate that the new therapy can reprogram pro-inflammatory macrophages into reparative macrophages, improving wound healing outcomes.
While the results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for rigorous randomized controlled clinical trials to ensure the safety and efficacy of its application in humans.
