Damaged human skin heals through fibrosis and scar formation rather than regenerating exact original tissue
Damaged adult human skin typically heals through a fibrotic repair process characterized by excessive collagen deposition and scar formation, rather than regenerating the exact original tissue architecture.
The provided papers consistently demonstrate that adult cutaneous wound healing is dominated by fibrotic mechanisms, fibroblast lineage switching, and extracellular matrix deposition resulting in scar formation rather than true tissue regeneration.
Jiayi Yin, Shiming Zhang, Chao Yang, Yan Wang, B. Shi, Q. Zheng, Ni Zeng, Hanyao Huang. Mechanotransduction in skin wound healing and scar formation: Potential therapeutic targets for controlling hypertrophic scarring. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1028410
Discusses how mechanical forces drive hypertrophic scarring and fibrotic wound repair instead of regeneration.
See more details
Zhensen Zhu, Jie Ding, Zengshuan Ma, Takashi Iwashina, Edward E. Tredget. Systemic depletion of macrophages in the subacute phase of wound healing reduces hypertrophic scar formation. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12442
Demonstrates that inflammation and macrophages drive pro-fibrotic scar formation in human skin wounds.
Pamela E. Houghton, Kerry A. Keefer, Thomas M. Krummel. The role of transforming growth factor‐β in the conversion from “scarless” healing to healing with scar formation. 1995. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-475x.1995.30215.x
Shows that transforming growth factor-beta mediates the transition from scarless fetal healing to scarring postnatal repair.
Tianying Chen, Bo Zhang, Hanqi Xie, Chenyu Huang, Qiong Wu. GRHL2 regulates keratinocyte EMT-MET dynamics and scar formation during cutaneous wound healing. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-024-07121-7
Examines how persistent mesenchymal states in epidermal cells promote tissue fibrosis and scar formation.
Sujie Xie, Runzhi Huang, Weijin Qian, Xinran Ding, Wei Zhang, Yixu Li, Jianyu Lu, Hanlin Sun, Yifan Liu, Yuntao Yao, Bingnan Lu, Minjuan Wu, Zhaofan Xia, Shizhao Ji. Globotriaosylceramide Gb3 Influences Wound Healing and Scar Formation by Orchestrating Fibroblast Heterogeneity. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202509733
Links glycosphingolipid metabolism and fibroblast heterogeneity to fibrotic scarring outcomes in skin injuries.
Niti A, Kouzi-Koliakou K, Michopoulou A. Fibroblast Lineage Switching as the Developmental Origin of Scarring and Target for Regenerative Healing.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15050409
Explains that postnatal adult skin injuries resolve through fibrosis rather than restoring normal tissue architecture.
Yoshikiyo Akasaka, Ichiro Ono, Toshiharu Yamashita, Kowichi Jimbow, Toshiharu Ishii. Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Accelerates Apoptosis in Acute Incisional Wound Healing and Reduces Scar Formation. 2005. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1067-1927.2005.130116aj.x
Notes that acute wound maturation typically results in scar formation via cellular proliferation and extracellular changes.
Shigeki Sakai, Yukari Nakajima, Kento Takaya, Keisuke Okabe, Kazuo Kishi. Yolk sac-derived fetal macrophages suppress skin fibrosis and contribute to scarless wound healing. 2025. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7478492/v1
Highlights that fetal macrophage transplantation can suppress fibrosis, contrasting with normal adult fibrotic healing.
Li J, Liu W, Yang J, Li Y. Epigenetic orchestration of scar formation: Therapeutic potential of targeting DNA methylation and non‑coding RNAs in cutaneous fibrosis (Review).. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.13922
Details how epigenetic memory locks dermal fibroblasts into a collagen-secretory fibrotic state during scarring.
The paper trail · every fact has a biography
Challenge the receipt
Citation formatting by citeproc-js (Frank Bennett) and the Citation Style Language project. Source and licenses.
Terms · Privacy · How verdicts work · Dispute this receipt