Loss of Atg7 in Endothelial Cells Enhanced Cutaneous Wound Healing in a Mouse Model.

Background: Emerging evidence has linked autophagy to skin wound healing; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study was designed to determine the role of autophagy in endothelial cell (EC)-mediated skin wound healing in mice.

Methods: Autophagy-related gene (Atg7) in mouse ECs was inactivated by the Cre-loxP system under the control of an EC-specific VE-Cadherin (Cdh5) promoter (Atg7 mice).