With age, cuts and grazes take longer to heal, particularly in men. Differences in circulating levels of sex steroids might underlie age- and gender-related variations in wound healing: oestrogens accelerate wound repair by dampening local inflammation; androgens have the opposite effect. Gillian Ashcroft and co-workers now provide new insights into how androgens modulate the inflammatory response during acute wound healing (see p. 722). Castration promotes wound healing in male rats. The authors show that treatment of unneutered male rats with an inhibitor of 5α-reductase, which converts testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), mimics this effect, suggesting that DHT is a major inhibitor of wound repair. Other experiments in Smad3-/- mice indicate that the transforming growth factor (TGF) β signalling intermediate Smad3 mediates the pro-inflammatory effects of androgens. The authors suggest that inhibition of DHT production could speed wound healing in elderly males and speculate that measurements of circulating DHT might identify elderly male patients at most risk of developing chronic non-healing ulcers.
Wound healing: lost in the male
Wound healing: lost in the male. J Cell Sci 15 February 2006; 119 (4): e404. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
2021 JCS Prize winner announced
-JCSPrize.png?versionId=3749)
We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 JCS Prize is Lee Dolat for his paper entitled ‘An endometrial organoid model of interactions between Chlamydia and epithelial and immune cells’.
Propose a new Workshop
-GSWorkshop.png?versionId=3749)
Our Workshops bring together leading experts and early-career researchers from a range of scientific backgrounds. Applications are now open to propose Workshops for 2024, one of which will be held in a Global South country.
Cell scientist to watch: Christian Münch
-CSTW.png?versionId=3749)
Journal of Cell Science interviewed Christian Münch, who established his independent research group in 2016 at Goethe University Frankfurt. His lab studies cellular stress responses to mitochondrial protein misfolding, infection and disease, as well as developing proteomics methods.
Essay series: Equity, diversity and inclusion in cell biology
-EssaySeries.png?versionId=3749)
The JCS Essay Series is an initiative to help showcase and provide a platform for voices in the field of cell biology. The first topic we covered was 'Equity, diversity and inclusion in cell biology', and the winning and runner up essays are now available to read.
FocalPlane Network launched
-FocalPlaneNetworkLaunch.png?versionId=3749)
We are excited to announce the launch of the FocalPlane Network, an international directory of microscopists. The idea behind the FocalPlane Network is to facilitate promotion and networking as well as assist those seeking conference speakers, committee members, reviewers or collaborators. We hope that it will help promote diversity in the community. Find out more and join the Network here.