Native wound-healing pathways

Native wound-healing pathways represent the integrated biological processes responsible for tissue repair following injury. This entry does not refer to a single molecular target but rather a complex orchestration of four overlapping phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling (StatPearls, 2023). During these phases, various cell types such as neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes interact with the extracellular matrix and signaling molecules like cytokines and growth factors to restore skin integrity (NIH, 2022). Drugs or therapies categorized under this heading often act by enhancing these natural mechanisms, such as promoting angiogenesis or accelerating re-epithelialization, rather than inhibiting a specific pathological enzyme or receptor. This approach is particularly relevant in treating chronic, non-healing wounds where the normal physiological sequence is stalled, often due to underlying conditions like diabetes or vascular disease (PubMed, 2021). Therapeutic interventions may include growth factors, cell-based therapies, or advanced dressings that modulate the wound microenvironment to favor healing. Because these pathways are multifaceted, they involve a wide array of molecular interactions including integrin signaling and matrix metalloproteinase activity.

Other names

Tissue repair pathwaysCutaneous wound healing processRegenerative signaling cascadesWound healing cascade

Modulation of the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of tissue repair through the recruitment of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and keratinocytes to the site of injury.