Abstract
Scar formation is the typical endpoint of postnatal dermal wound healing, which affects more than 100 million individuals annually. Not only do scars cause a functional burden by reducing the biomechanical strength of skin at the site of injury, but they also significantly increase healthcare costs and impose psychosocial challenges. Though the mechanisms that dictate how dermal wounds heal are still not completely understood, they are regulated by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, neovascularization, and inflammatory responses. The cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 has emerged as a key mediator of the pro- to anti-inflammatory transition that counters collagen deposition in scarring. In parallel, the high molecular weight (HMW) glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA) is present in the ECM and acts in concert with IL-10 to block pro-inflammatory signals and attenuate fibrotic responses. Notably, high concentrations of both IL-10 and HMW HA are produced in early gestational fetal skin, which heals scarlessly. Since fibroblasts are responsible for collagen deposition, it is critical to determine how the concerted actions of IL-10 and HA drive their function to potentially control fibrogenesis. Beyond their independent actions, an auto-regulatory IL-10/HA axis may exist to modulate the magnitude of CD4+ effector T lymphocyte activation and enhance T regulatory cell function in order to reduce scarring. This review underscores the pathophysiological impact of the IL-10/HA axis as a multifaceted molecular mechanism to direct primary cell responders and regulators toward either regenerative dermal tissue repair or scarring.
Clinical Significance
Dermal wound healing is an intricate process, driven by fibrotic mechanisms that cause scarring at the site of injury. Though the underlying mechanisms of wound healing are not fully understood, caring for wounds is a large part of our healthcare system. More than 100 million people in developed countries are estimated to develop scars annually, largely resulting from medical procedures (). In 2012, more than 35 million surgeries were performed in the United States and over 300 million worldwide, each resulting in at least one dermal wound. Furthermore, millions of these patients suffer from diabetes or related autoimmune disorders, leading to poor healing and chronic wounds () with an estimated annual cost of care approaching $100 billion (). Even in those without underlying conditions, scars reduce the biomechanical strength, elasticity, and integrity of the skin and impair its function (; ). Scars also contribute to pain and psychological distress, as patients have reported feelings of anxiety regarding the appearance of the scar or the memories surrounding the instigating event ().
The high morbidity of scar formation is not unique to the skin but is common in post-inflammatory reactions of other organs. For instance, scar tissue can be deposited in place of cardiac tissue after a myocardial infarction, which then interferes with synchronous cardiac function. Similarly, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive condition defined by deposition of scar tissue in the lung interstitium, is caused by post-inflammatory fibrotic reactions. Renal fibrotic diseases, such as crescentic glomerulonephritis, also emphasize the systemic nature of the scar formation processes (; ). Taken in a broader context, it has been postulated that fibrosis accounts for almost 50% of worldwide mortality (). Due to the high incidence and the high-risk morbidity of fibrosis, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms that lead to fibrosis rather than regeneration after injury so that new therapies can be developed to widely address the physical and psychosocial consequences of aberrant fibrosis.
Unlike fetal and mucosal tissues, which physiologically heal scarlessly, postnatal skin inevitably undergoes fibrotic wound healing, which begs the question of what determines the difference between regenerative and fibrotic tissue repair (). In contrast to postnatal skin, fetal tissues and adult mucosal tissues feature lower inflammatory responses underscored by reduced immune cell recruitment and activation, lower transforming growth factor (TGF) -β1 levels (), and increased vascular maturity and keratinocyte proliferation (; ); all of which are consistent with regenerative wound healing. Fetal skin exhibits lower infiltration of macrophages, mast cells, dendritic cells, and T lymphocytes (; ; ; ), leading to reduced levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 (). On the contrary, fetal skin has elevated levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (). Moreover, fetal skin is rich in type III collagen arranged in a “basket weave” pattern, allowing it to have more elasticity, whereas adult skin has a densely packed type I collagen matrix (). The fetal extracellular matrix (ECM) is also uniquely characterized by increased amounts of high molecular weight (HMW) hyaluronan (HA), which has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic functions. Interestingly, IL-10 has been shown to promote HMW HA synthesis in dermal fibroblasts (), which in turn has been shown to promote IL-10 production in lymphocytes (). This suggests a possible biologic feedback loop between fibroblasts and lymphocytes, communicated by IL-10 and HMW HA, that can drive the postnatal wound healing response toward either a fibrotic, scar-forming phenotype or a regenerative phenotype.
The present review aims to address the morbidity of fibrosis as it relates to differences between tissue types and the contribution of immune cell responders to ECM remodeling, with specific notes on the role of IL-10 and HA in modulating fibroblast response to injury and the potential physiological impact of T lymphocyte driven regulation.
Stages of Dermal Wound Healing
Dermal wound healing can be divided into four stages: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling (; ). The initial response to injury is the formation of a platelet plug for hemostasis, followed by the infiltration of primary immune cell responders. During the proliferative phase, granulation tissue, containing a highly vascularized network of ECM components and growth factors, is formed as keratinocytes and fibroblasts, respectively, are recruited to form an epithelial layer and deposit a new ECM. Myofibroblasts then contract and re-approximate the wound edges, and the temporary fibronectin and type III collagen matrix is replaced with a type I collagen-based scar (). Table 1 summarizes the main cell types involved in wound healing and their functions.
TABLE 1
| Cell type | Role | References |
| Neutrophils | - Limit local infection - Secrete pro-inflammatory factors to increase immune response - Recruit leukocytes - Reduce rate of epithelialization | , |
| M1 macrophages | - Secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines - Present antigens to T cells - Associated with chronic wounds - Activate M2 macrophages late into response | , , , |
| M2 macrophages | - Scavenge cellular debris - Increase extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis - Secrete transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 to recruit fibroblasts - Secrete interleukin (IL)-10 - Secrete VEGF for angiogenesis - Accelerate wound closure | , , , , , , |
| Fibroblasts | - Form ECM at injury site - Secrete growth factors, including TGF-β - Deposit collagen - Secrete hyaluronan (HA) | , , , , , |
| Myofibroblasts | - Contract wound by applying tensile strength to ECM components - Promote type I collagen deposition | |
| T lymphocytes | - Effector T cells - Increase inflammatory cytokines, target damaged cells - CD4+ T cells - Release anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-10, and promote macrophage M2 polarization - Prevent macrophage / neutrophil infiltration - Increase microvascularization - Tregs - Dampen immune response - Reduce macrophage M1 polarization - Tr1 cells - Secrete IL-10 | , , , , , , , , , , |
| B lymphocytes | - Produce humoral antibody response - Activate T cell response - Accelerate wound closure in chronic wounds - Associated with slowed wound closure in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice | , , |
Role of various cell types in regulating healing.
Scarring is dictated by both the inflammatory and proliferative phases; since the skin plays a major role as a barrier against external pathogens, robust immune cell recruitment is necessary to prevent infection. However, inflammation also triggers fibrosis — the hallmark of the proliferative phase (). Much of the cutting-edge research in the field focuses on the two main players in scarring: inflammation and ECM remodeling. By reciprocally regulating each other’s signaling, inflammatory reactions and ECM deposition can direct the cells at the site of injury to mold the structure of newly formed tissue.
Inflammatory Response in Wound Healing
Cellular Response
Upon injury, much of the pro-inflammatory environment is created by the innate immune response, which is crucial to fight potential infection and activate wound healing. The initial response is dominated by neutrophils for the first 1–2 days in order to limit infection (). This is an important stage for increasing the secretion of inflammatory factors along with the recruitment of other leukocytes against target pathogens (). Interestingly, data from neutrophil depleted mice revealed accelerated epithelialization, suggesting that neutrophils slow wound healing. However, neutrophils do not appear to directly affect the dermal structure and collagen deposition (), emphasizing the multifactorial nature of scarring.
Other primary immune cell responders involved in fibrogenic wound healing include macrophages (; ; ), which secrete cytokines to drive cell recruitment and differentiation and scavenge cell debris at the site of injury via phagocytosis. The actions of macrophages are necessary for angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation, and rapid would closure during the early phases of healing (). Furthermore, phagocytosis by macrophages upholds the transition of the wound into an anti-inflammatory environment focused on stabilizing the matrix to prevent further damage (). The plasticity of macrophages has been noted by their capability to differentiate into distinct subsets mainly represented by active pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) seen early at the site of injury and anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2) seen later at the recovery stage (; ; ; ). While M1 macrophages are activated by bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or inflammatory cytokines (), M1 to M2 polarization has been mainly attributed to the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4. The cytoprotective significance of these molecules is supported by evidence showing that M1 to M2 macrophage transition was delayed when cytokine function was blocked, contributing to delayed or absent collagen redistribution ().
As stated previously, M1 macrophages are important in propagating the inflammatory response and removing harmful products resulting from skin damage, such as bacterial components and debris from damaged cells. By acting as antigen presenting cells, macrophages can also activate adaptive immunity via T lymphocyte differentiation and function (). Later during the proliferative phase, M1 macrophages undergo M2 polarization, initiating anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion, prominently IL-10 (). This allows wounds to heal without inflammation-induced damage and prevents late hemorrhaging (). The M1 pro- to M2 anti-inflammatory transition is triggered by the phagocytosis of cellular debris and fibroblast activation (). Specifically, the M2c subset plays an important role in removing cellular debris by upregulating cell surface receptors, stimulating ECM synthesis, and promoting angiogenesis (; ). In that context, M2 macrophages release growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and TGF-β1, that are important for neovascularization and granulation tissue formation (; ; ). These cytokines recruit both keratinocytes and fibroblasts, upregulate collagen deposition, and elicit pro-fibrotic healing (; ).
Macrophages have been shown to impact the healing of chronic wounds as evidenced by their depletion delaying fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition, ultimately holding back wound closure (; ). Concomitantly, macrophages can accelerate wound closure by further differentiating into fibroblasts to enhance the production of ECM components (), a phenomenon also observed in chronic wounds of diabetic mice. Prolonged inflammation and lack of M1 to M2 macrophage conversion is characteristic of chronic wounds (), where the reduced expression of M2 genes and slowed wound closure can be rescued by the exogenous addition of TGF-β1 (). The presence of factors that specifically recruit and activate macrophages, such as macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, were linked to faster wound epithelialization in diabetic mice (; ). This supports the notion that both recruitment and effective M1 to M2 macrophage polarization can impact the formation of new tissue and wound closure.
Differences between adult and fetal skin macrophage levels provide insight into their role in fibrosis. Fetal skin was shown to have fewer inflammatory cells overall and contained a greater percentage of M2 macrophages relative to adult skin (). This is also the case in both healthy and wounded oral mucosal tissue (). Another difference is the type of TGF-β secreted by macrophages. Fetal skin has higher levels of TGF-β3, which is associated with reduced collagen deposition and scarless healing (). By contrast, TGF-β1 is the main type present in adult tissues and is a major mediator of scarring. Furthermore, the introduction of TGF-β1 to fetal skin leads to fibrosis, whereas its depletion from adult skin prevents fibrosis (; ).
As demonstrated by these studies, the temporal localization of various immune cell types to a wound can impact healing by instigating an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory microenvironment. In addition to the recruitment of other responders, one of the main roles of these immune cells is the secretion of cytokines, which play an integral role in determining the presence and extent of scarring.
Cytokine Response
The importance of inflammation at the site of injury has led to a focus on better understanding the regulation of regenerative healing by cytokines. During the initial response, two of the cytokines responsible for propagating inflammation are IL-6 and IL-8, which have been directly correlated to an increased number of macrophages in the wound (). In the presence of IL-6 and IL-8, both fibroblasts and epithelial cells have a diminished migratory capacity and secrete increased amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (). Conversely, the relative lack of an inflammatory environment in their absence contributes to the phenotype of scarless healing. In contrast to adult wounds where IL-6 and IL-8 are dominant and present for longer periods after injury (, ), fetal skin has significantly lower levels of these inflammatory cytokines (). Strikingly, the application of IL-6 to fetal wounds causes scarring in this naturally scarless environment ().
Just as pro-inflammatory cytokines are linked to fibrosis, the opposite is also true of the protective activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines against fibrosis. Namely, IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that consistently demonstrates to be a major mediator in preventing scars (; ). The function of IL-10 was initially studied in T cell differentiation, as it is released by the helper T lymphocyte (Th2) subset to counter pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by the Th1 subset. It has therefore been associated with diseases caused by a presence of Th2 cells, including allergies and asthma (). IL-10 is ubiquitously expressed and secreted by many cell types in addition to lymphocytes, including granulocytes (such as neutrophils), endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and mast cells. Expression by these alternate cell types can in turn influence both the innate and adaptive immune responses (). IL-10 also plays a role in preventing chronic inflammatory diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Mutations in IL-10 or the IL-10 receptor have been associated with severe enterocolitis that originates from altered hematopoietic stem cell signaling and loss of regulatory T cell function, which leads to hyper-active effector CD4+ cell responses (; ). The cytokine has also been considered as a therapeutic option for chronic Crohn’s disease and psoriasis and for acute encephalitis and other central nervous system diseases, as it has been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation ().
IL-10 exerts its anti-inflammatory actions by transducing signals through a tetramer cell surface receptor composed of the IL-10Rα and IL-10Rβ subunits (). Once bound, downstream signaling goes through the janus kinase - signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathways, which ultimately leads to the phosphorylation and activation of the STAT3 transcription factor (; ; ). This pathway is an important gatekeeper as IL-6 also in part signals via STAT3. The balance of these factors influences the pro or anti-inflammatory cytokine milieu (). IL-10 also reduces the infiltration of immune cell responders via inhibition of p38 MAPK and deactivation of HuR, an mRNA stabilizer (). For example, in a myocardial infarction model, IL-10 destabilizes mRNA encoding TNF-α, leading to less harmful left ventricular remodeling and reduced apoptosis of cardiac cells after injury (). Current research posits a role for IL-10 in mediating the metabolism of other cell types. For example, IL-10 induces macrophages to transition their metabolism from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (), which can drive M2 macrophage polarization (). In the context of wound healing, this transition can mitigate M1 macrophage subset-driven inflammation at the injury site and promote effective wound healing ().
IL-10 also facilitates the transition from the inflammatory to the proliferative phase by modulating the type and number of primary immune cell responders that migrate to a site of injury and regulating the expression of cytokines (). The overexpression of IL-10 reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, MCP-1, and heat shock protein 47 (). When given prophylactically, IL-10 decreases the number of pro-inflammatory cells at the wound site (; ), while concomitantly acting on macrophages to prevent the expression of inflammatory signals, such as TNF-α ().
Evidence that IL-10 plays a role in ECM remodeling during injury stems from studies that show how scarring is caused by the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts, the deposition of collagen, and the reduction in matrix metalloprotease (MMP) activity. In these studies, IL-10 exerts a protective action against scar tissue formation by downregulating collagen production (). This is true in different types of tissue, including models of pulmonary fibrosis and myocardial infarction (; ), in which IL-10 influences proteolytic enzymes to lyse the ECM and decrease macrophage TGF-β1 expression to prevent fibrosis (; , ).
Elevated IL-10 baseline levels are required for fetal skin to heal scarlessly, and the loss of this cytokine in fetal tissues has been associated with increased levels of inflammation in wounds and fibrotic wound repair (). Accordingly, IL-10 and IL-4 deficient mice showed increased inflammatory monocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages, in conjunction with high deposition of thick collagen fibers. Treatment with IL-10 led to reduced inflammatory cell numbers and restoration of normal skin architecture and strength, which included randomly oriented collagen fibers, and clinically reduced scar size and redness (; ; ; ). In support of these collective studies, Figure 1 demonstrates that overexpression of IL-10 in adult dermal wounds confers scarless healing (; ; ). IL-10 upholds this regenerative phenotype through mechanisms associated with accelerated dermal healing and by interacting with fibroblasts to modulate ECM remodeling. Specifically, IL-10 crosstalk with the ECM underscores the relevance of the interaction between inflammatory responses and ECM-driven modulation of fibrosis.
FIGURE 1
Role of the Extracellular Matrix and Hyaluronan in Wound Healing
Extracellular Matrix
The ECM comprises a network of structural and functional molecules that surround cells and provide a scaffold for growth and physical connectivity, which is essential to transduce environmental cues through growth factor signaling and drive inter- and intra-cellular reactions. Briefly, the ECM structure includes proteins, such as collagen fibrils, elastin, and fibronectin, which enable cell adhesion and provide tissue strength. Interspersed within the ECM are proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, which facilitate scaffold formation and ensure compressive strength (
At the time of initial injury, the ECM scaffold is damaged, eliciting the influx of cells, cytokines, and growth factors that are necessary for the initial inflammation and repair responses. During this response, fibroblasts are stimulated by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and are responsible for creating a new ECM structure. A temporary ECM is built, containing fibrin, fibrinogen, and fibronectin to facilitate fibroblast adherence and secretion of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (
Differences in wound healing can be attributed to ECM composition; for instance, higher levels of type VI collagen in the lungs cause faster epithelialization than type I collagen (
Though a large percentage of healthy skin ECM is composed of type I collagen, there are significant structural differences between the ECM of healthy and scarred skin (
An association also exists between the tensile strength of the ECM and the forces needed to contract the wound. Specifically, fetal skin has thin collagen fibers that are under low stress, but adult skin is made up of thicker bundles of collagen that are physiologically under higher stress (
Hyaluronan
Despite its simple disaccharide chain structure of repeating D-glucuronic acid and DN-acetylglucosamine residues, HA has multifaceted functions (
Injury increases the production of HA by upregulating HAS expression, while simultaneously increasing its degradation into a LMW variant by upregulating hyaluronidase expression and the presence of oxidative stress (
High molecular weight HA has shown beneficial effects during wound healing, including the reduction of inflammatory cytokine expression after ultraviolet damage of keratinocytes and the recruitment of primary immune cell responders to the site of injury after smoke inhalation (
The impact of HMW HA on immunity during wound healing stems from its direct interaction with primary immune cells through CD44, a receptor expressed by neutrophils, T lymphocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells (
Consistent with its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, HMW HA is being considered as a therapeutic option to accelerate wound healing in chronic or impaired wounds. For example, application of exogenous HMW HA to diabetic wounds, which have lower baseline HA levels than healthy controls, improved healing by increasing neovascularization and TGF-β1 levels (
Regulation of Fibroblasts by IL-10 and Hyaluronan
As previously discussed, both IL-10 and HMW HA can interdependently reduce pro-fibrotic wound healing, but their respective contributions to scar prevention is intertwined with their regulation of fibroblast responses to injury. Fibroblasts are the main cell type involved in new ECM production and wound closure. The myofibroblast subset, in particular, has contractile properties that can place the ECM network under stress to close the wound. In a fibrotic wound, myofibroblasts remain in the wound site for a longer period, providing them time to mature in the presence of fibronectin and TGF-β1 and synthesize α-SMA and collagen I (
Since fibroblasts are responsible for forming the ECM, the regulation of their differentiation and acquired phenotypes is crucial to modulating fibrosis. Fetal fibroblasts experience slower metabolism and apoptosis than adult fibroblasts, but show increased migration and invasion (
FIGURE 2

Distribution of hyaluronan (HA) in pericellular matrix (PCM) of fibroblasts in the presence of IL-10. Phase contrast imaging of fibroblasts shows differences in PCM area between fetal and adult fibroblasts. White dotted lines indicate the border of the PCM. Green dotted lines indicate the border of the cell body. Around fetal fibroblasts, there is a dense HA PCM (A), which significantly decreases in the presence of hyaluronidase (B) or the absence of IL-10 (C). In adult fibroblasts, the HA matrix is typically smaller (D), but increases to a size similar to that of the fetal fibroblast in the presence of IL-10 (E). This effect is reversed by the presence of hyaluronidase (F). The quantification of the area of HA rich PCM relative to the area of the cell in adult and fetal fibroblasts is shown in (G). (H) Demonstrates the pathways by which IL-10 increases the HA PCM. FFB, fetal fibroblast; AFB, adult fibroblast; HAS, hyaluronan synthase; HYAL, hyaluronidase; 4-MU, 4-methylumbelliferone. **p < 0.01; scale bar, 50 μm (A–F). Figure from
STAT3, a molecule downstream of the IL-10 - IL-10R signaling, is necessary to produce high HMW HA concentrations and achieve regenerative scarless wound healing. Briefly, when IL-10 binds to its receptor, the JAK1-STAT3 pathway is activated, and STAT3 is phosphorylated to yield an active form that translocates into the nucleus and acts as a transcription factor (
As previously stated, STAT3 activation is increased upon IL-10 binding to its cognate receptor (
Role of Lymphocytes in Wound Healing
Much of the research to date has focused on the role of inflammation, ECM, and the innate immune system in driving wound healing. Innate immune cells and their cytokine products are known to play a large role in determining whether a wound will heal via regenerative or fibrotic tissue repair. However, cells of the adaptive immune system can also drive pro- and anti-inflammatory responses to regulate the direction of post-injury wound healing (
Following an acute response to injury, adaptive immunity is activated to provide antigen-specific responses. Dendritic cells are specialized cells that capture, process, and present antigens to inactive/naïve B or T lymphocytes. Upon antigen and cognate co-stimulatory signaling, B lymphocytes are activated to provide the humoral production of antigen-specific antibodies. Concurrently, T lymphocytes further differentiate into either effector CD4+ Th lymphocyte subsets to drive immune responses or cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets to clear aberrantly developed, damaged or infected cells. Both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets are under tight control by regulatory T cells, which modulate all immune responses (
While both B and T lymphocytes have roles in the development of fibrosis, the significance of T lymphocytes in wound healing can be readily demonstrated in immune deficient models such as athymic mice and severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice. The athymic mouse models comprise a variety of immune deficient strains that lack functional mature T lymphocytes. Early studies using athymic mice highlight the importance of temporal changes in T cell levels—their early presence is necessary for restoring the biomechanical strength of skin, whereas later introduction of T lymphocytes reduces skin integrity (
FIGURE 3

Relationship between T lymphocytes and scarring in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice. IHC images (A) and quantification (B) of CD45+ leukocytes and F4/80+ macrophages show changes in their levels after the introduction of total lymphocytes, CD4– lymphocytes, CD4+CD25– lymphocytes, and CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes. Similar changes with the introduction of T lymphocytes were seen in collagen content and the presence of myofibroblasts in the trichrome and α-SMA stained tissue, respectively (C,D). Generally, a reduction in pro-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic cells and collagen deposition was observed after the introduction of specific T cell subsets. There was also an increase in microvascularization after the introduction of particular lymphocyte subsets (E,F). *p < 0.05; scale bars, 75 μm (A), 200 μm (C,F). Figure from
The role CD4+ Th lymphocytes is more nuanced, as CD4+ cells can further differentiate into Th1 or Th2 subsets. Th1 cells are responsible for cellular immune responses while Th2 cells are important in humoral responses. There is a constant interplay between the levels of these cell types, where the cytokines secreted by one suppress the other, allowing the immune response to be targeted to a specific type of pathogen (
CD4+ T Regulatory Lymphocytes
Regulatory T cells comprise a subset of T lymphocytes that are known to modulate the magnitude of immune responses to uphold immune tolerance and control the direction of inflammatory outcomes. Recent studies show that there are distinct subsets of regulatory cells, namely: (1) Tregs characterized by CD25+CD4+ markers that express the transcription factor Foxp3 and (2) Tr1 cells distinguished by their lack of Foxp3 expression (
Tregs and their anti-fibrotic properties are dependent on HA binding via its receptor CD44, which is upregulated on activated T cells and increases Treg signaling. Treg binding of HA via CD44 is associated with an upregulation of Foxp3 and lower proliferation of the immune cells typically involved in an inflammatory response (
The capacity of Tregs to remain at the site of the wound has been attributed to their upregulation of the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), which readily binds the mast cell derived ligand amphiregulin (
Previous studies sustain that CD4+ Th2 lymphocytes influence the anti-inflammatory/fibrotic M1 to M2 transition and regenerative healing, which is supported by an interactive crosstalk with regulatory cells. In this way, Tregs can become the deciding factor to direct homeostatic resolution of inflammation during post-injury tissue repair by increasing the release of anti-inflammatory IL-10 at the wound microenvironment and reducing or even abrogating fibrogenic activity. Tregs can also potentiate anti-inflammatory M1 to M2 macrophage conversion, and can persist and increase their functionality to compensate for the absence of other CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets (
Since Tregs promote anti-inflammatory reactions, it would be expected that they would reduce fibrosis in wound healing, which has been observed in multiple tissue models (
IL-10 Hyaluronan Axis Regulating Lymphocyte and Fibroblast Crosstalk
These observations discussed so far on inflammation and ECM responses during wound healing support the role of IL-10, HA, CD4+ T cells and fibroblasts in regulating fibrosis. IL-10 promotes the decrease of fibrotic cytokines and regulates the fibroblast phenotype, but also exerts its functions in an HA dependent manner. For instance, IL-10 has the capacity to induce fibroblast differentiation and function to mirror the phenotype and physiological features of fetal fibroblasts and achieve the synthesis and secretion of increased levels of HMW HA (
Conclusion
The complex interplay between the inflammatory responses, ECM composition, and immunity is inherently intertwined in directing how skin wounds heal. The key players that balance pro- or anti-fibrotic responses to injury are summarized in Figure 4.
FIGURE 4

Signaling and cellular regulation pathways involved in fibrotic and regenerative healing. In fibrotic healing, inflammatory signals, including IL-6 and IL-8 activate M1 macrophages to propagate the inflammatory response, activate effector T cells, and recruit fibroblasts to deposit collagen. This is supported by low molecular weight (LMW) HA. Regenerative healing is characterized by reduced inflammation due to the presence of IL-10, HMW HA, and Tregs. IL-10 induces fibroblasts to secrete HMW HA, which results in the increased presence of Tregs and reduced inflammatory macrophage polarization and collagen deposition.
Understanding the framework of mechanisms that coordinate cellular and molecular interactions to result in regenerative or fibrotic wound healing is critical to inform innovative approaches to tissue repair. Ultimately, this knowledge can be leveraged to design and develop next-generation therapeutics to reduce fibrotic responses, and potentially restore the complete integrity of the damaged skin. Initial studies have been performed in humans with local doses of IL-10 at the site of the wounds, leading to reduced fibrosis (
Statements
Author contributions
SK conceptualized the review. KS drafted the article. All authors discussed the results, and critically edited the article. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
This work was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding (1R01-GM111808 to SK) and support from the Amie and Jeff Springmeyer family.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the editing and scientific input of Monica Fahrenholtz, Ph.D. and Hector Martinez-Valdez, Ph.D. from the Office of Surgical Research Administration. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program and Medical Research Pathway.
Conflict of interest
RB was employed by the company BIOLIFE4D. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
dermal scarring, fetal wound healing, inflammation, IL-10, extracellular matrix, hyaluronan, T lymphocytes
Citation
Singampalli KL, Balaji S, Wang X, Parikh UM, Kaul A, Gilley J, Birla RK, Bollyky PL and Keswani SG (2020) The Role of an IL-10/Hyaluronan Axis in Dermal Wound Healing. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 8:636. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00636
Received
13 May 2020
Accepted
24 June 2020
Published
17 July 2020
Volume
8 - 2020
Edited by
Satoshi Takagi, Fukuoka University, Japan
Reviewed by
Traci Wilgus, The Ohio State University, United States; Rajprasad Loganathan, Johns Hopkins University, United States
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Copyright
© 2020 Singampalli, Balaji, Wang, Parikh, Kaul, Gilley, Birla, Bollyky and Keswani.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Sundeep G. Keswani, keswani@bcm.edu
This article was submitted to Cell Growth and Division, a section of the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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