The Open Circulation & Vascular Journal

2010, 3 : 43-55
Published online 2010 March 04. DOI: 10.2174/1874382601003010043
Publisher ID: TOCVJ-3-43

Inflammatory and Angiogenic Abnormalities in Diabetic Wound Healing: Role of Neuropeptides and Therapeutic Perspectives

Ana Tellechea , Ermelindo Leal , Aristidis Veves and Eugénia Carvalho
Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3000-517 Coimbra – Portugal

ABSTRACT

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is one of the most costly and debilitating complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations, affecting 15% of the diabetic population. Impaired wound healing in diabetic patients without large-vessel disease has been attributed to microvascular dysfunction, neuropathy, and abnormal cellular and inflammatory responses. These abnormalities have been examined mainly in animal models although a few studies have been undertaken in diabetic patients. This review provides an overview of the inflammatory and vascular abnormalities in DFU and emphasises the role of angiogenic growth factors, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and neuropeptides as mediators of wound healing and potential therapeutic agents for these chronic, non-healing ulcers.

Keywords:

Wound healing, inflammation, angiogenesis, neuropeptides.