☆ 4.6 Article

Leptin Promotes Wound Healing in the Oral Mucosa

PLOS ONE (2014)

Journal

PLOS ONE

Volume 9, Issue 7, Pages -

Publisher

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101984

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Funding

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan [24593016, 25293415, 24659905, 23792392, 24593015]
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [25861984, 24593015, 23792392, 24593016, 24659905, 25293415] Funding Source: KAKEN

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Abstract

Introduction: Leptin, a 16 kDa circulating anti-obesity hormone, exhibits many physiological properties. Recently, leptin was isolated from saliva; however, its function in the oral cavity is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the physiological role of leptin in the oral cavity by focusing on its effect on wound healing in the oral mucosa. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was used to examine the expression of the leptin receptor (Ob-R) in human/rabbit oral mucosa. To investigate the effect of leptin on wound healing in the oral mucosa, chemical wounds were created in rabbit oral mucosa, and leptin was topically administered to the wound. The process of wound repair was histologically observed and quantitatively analyzed by measuring the area of ulceration and the duration required for complete healing. The effect of leptin on the proliferation, differentiation and migration of human oral mucosal epithelial cells (RT7 cells) was investigated using crystal violet staining, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and a wound healing assay, respectively. Results: Ob-R was expressed in spinous/granular cells in the epithelial tissue and vascular endothelial cells in the subepithelial connective tissue of the oral mucosa. Topical administration of leptin significantly promoted wound healing and shortened the duration required for complete healing. Histological analysis of gingival tissue beneath the ulceration showed a denser distribution of blood vessels in the leptin-treated group. Although the proliferation and differentiation of RT7 cells were not affected by leptin, the migration of these cells was accelerated in the presence of leptin. Conclusion: Topically administered leptin was shown to promote wound healing in the oral mucosa by accelerating epithelial cell migration and enhancing angiogenesis around the wounded area. These results strongly suggest that topical administration of leptin may be useful as a treatment to promote wound healing in the oral mucosa.

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A Scarless Healing Tale: Comparing Homeostasis and Wound Healing of Oral Mucosa With Skin and Oesophagus

Diana Pereira, Ines Sequeira

Summary: Epithelial tissues have a natural ability for renewal and regeneration, crucial for providing the ultimate barrier against the external environment. The oral mucosa is known for its outstanding healing potential with minimal scarring, contributing to reducing fibrotic tissue formation. The combination of cell therapy and bioengineering to leverage the scarless properties of the oral mucosa for skin and esophageal wound healing is a promising avenue for achieving scarless wound healing.

FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (2021)