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REVIEW article

Front. Immunol.
Sec. Inflammation
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1467531

The role of SLC7A11 in diabetic wound healing: novel insights and new therapeutic strategies

Provisionally accepted
Mingmei Zhou Mingmei Zhou 1*Wei Zhang Wei Zhang 2Jiawei Feng Jiawei Feng 2Yiming Ni Yiming Ni 1Gen Li Gen Li 1Yuqing Wang Yuqing Wang 2Yemin Cao Yemin Cao 2Zhao Cheng Zhao Cheng 2*
  • 1 Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • 2 Shanghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese with Western Medicine, Shanghai, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Diabetic wounds are a severe complication of diabetes, characterized by persistent, non-healing ulcers due to disrupted wound-healing mechanisms in a hyperglycemic environment. Key factors in the pathogenesis of these chronic wounds include unresolved inflammation and antioxidant defense imbalances. The cystine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 (xCT) is crucial for cystine import, glutathione production, and antioxidant protection, positioning it as a vital regulator of diabetic wound healing.Recent studies underscore the role of SLC7A11 in modulating immune responses and oxidative stress in diabetic wounds. Moreover, SLC7A11 influences critical processes such as insulin secretion and the mTOR signaling pathway, both of which are implicated in delayed wound healing. This review explores the mechanisms regulating SLC7A11 and its impact on immune response, antioxidant defenses, insulin secretion, and mTOR pathways in diabetic wounds. Additionally, we highlight the current advancements in targeting SLC7A11 for treating related diseases and conceptualize its potential applications and value in diabetic wound treatment strategies, along with the challenges encountered in this context.

    Keywords: SLC7A11, System xc-, diabetic wound healing, Efferocytosis, Oxidative Stress, ferroptosis

    Received: 20 Jul 2024; Accepted: 19 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Zhou, Zhang, Feng, Ni, Li, Wang, Cao and Cheng. 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) or licensor 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:
    Mingmei Zhou, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
    Zhao Cheng, Shanghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese with Western Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.