Wound Microenvironment Components (WME) (WME)

The wound microenvironment components represent the intricate and dynamic assembly of cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and biochemical signaling molecules that define the local site of tissue repair [5, 6]. This environment includes a variety of cell types such as neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes, which interact through a complex network of cytokines, growth factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [1, 3, 4]. In a healthy healing process, these components transition through coordinated phases of hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling to restore tissue integrity [2, 8]. However, in chronic or non-healing wounds, the microenvironment often becomes trapped in a state of persistent inflammation characterized by high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, excessive protease activity, and hypoxia [1, 7]. Therapeutic strategies targeting the wound microenvironment aim to correct these imbalances, often employing bioactive dressings, exogenous growth factors like Becaplermin, or antimicrobial agents to promote a transition toward the proliferative phase [4, 10]. Understanding the specific composition and state of the wound microenvironment is essential for the development of personalized regenerative medicine and advanced wound care therapies [7, 8].

Other names

Wound milieuWound environmentLocal wound environmentWound healing microenvironment

Modulation of the inflammatory response by neutralizing pro-inflammatory cytokines or promoting M2 macrophage polarization; enzymatic debridement of necrotic tissue and degraded ECM to clear the wound bed; exogenous supplementation of growth factors to stimulate cell proliferation and angiogenesis; regulation of protease activity through MMP inhibition; antimicrobial action to reduce bioburden and disrupt biofilms.