LISBON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) - Researchers at the University of Coimbra in northern Portugal have demonstrated that blocking two microRNA molecules can substantially accelerate wound healing in people with diabetes.
The study, recently published in the Portuguese journal Diabetologia, showed near-complete wound closure within ten days by simultaneously inhibiting miR-146a-5p and miR-29a-3p, the university said on Tuesday.
"These molecular therapy targets may have significant potential to improve patient recovery, shorten hospital stays, reduce amputation risk, and ease the economic and social burden associated with diabetes," said Ermelindo Leal and Eugenia Carvalho, investigators from the University of Coimbra's Obesity, Diabetes and Complications group.
The study noted that these small molecules, which regulate gene expression, are elevated in the skin of diabetic patients. The research also involved scientists from Roskilde University in Denmark.
In diabetes patients, wound healing is often delayed and complex, increasing the risk of hard-to-treat ulcers. The researchers tested the inhibition of the two microRNAs using specially designed molecules in both human cells and type-1 diabetic mice.
In the mouse studies, the therapeutic approach significantly reduced wound size within ten days, producing skin that was more resilient and structurally organized.
According to the university, the findings open new possibilities for developing therapies that target key processes involved in wound healing, including inflammation, oxidative stress, blood vessel formation, and extracellular matrix remodeling.
Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide, causing pain, recurrent infections, frequent hospitalizations, and amputations - with cases continuing to rise. The identified microRNA targets could also enhance therapeutic strategies for other conditions characterized by impaired healing or chronic inflammation. ■
