Wound healing: the role of growth factors.

Wound healing is a complex biological process that requires cellular interactions between a variety of cells, including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes and immune cells. These interactions are mediated by numerous factors such as growth factors, hormones, blood components and second messengers. Several growth factors that are released at the wound site are presumed to be necessary for wound healing.

Effects of Aloe vera on gap junctional intercellular communication and proliferation of human diabetic and nondiabetic skin fibroblasts.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Aloe vera on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts in the presence or absence of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2).

Design: In vitro study using human type II diabetic and nondiabetic skin fibroblast cell lines.

Setting And Subjects: Diabetic (n = 4) and nondiabetic (n = 4) human skin fibroblast cell lines were purchased from Coriell Institute for Medical Research (Camden, NJ).