DERMAL STEM CELLS & TISSUE REGENERATION Filamin A Mediates Wound Closure by Promoting Elastic Deformation and Maintenance of Tension in the Collagen Matrix Researchers examined the role of filamin A, an actin filament cross-linking protein, in wound contraction and maintenance of matrix tension. Conditional deletion of FLNa in fibroblasts in mice was associated with ~4 days delay of full-thickness skin wound contraction compared with wild-type mice. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract Acceleration of Skin Regeneration in Full-Thickness Burns by Incorporation of bFGF-Loaded Alginate Microspheres into a CMCS-PVA Hydrogel Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is known to promote angiogenesis and accelerate wound healing. Direct delivery of bFGF to the wound area, however, would lead to a loss of bioactivity. To this end, bFGF-loaded alginate microspheres were fabricated and incorporated into carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to form a composite hydrogel. [J Tissue Eng Regen Med] Abstract Mice Overexpressing Integrin αv in Fibroblasts Exhibit Dermal Thinning of the Skin To investigate the role of αv integrin (ITGAV) in skin fibrosis, researchers engineered transgenic mice that overexpressed ITGAV in the fibroblasts under the control of the COL1A2 enhancer promoter. [J Dermatol Sci] Abstract Human Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells Loaded in Nanofibrous PCL Scaffold and Their Healing Effect on Skin Defects Nanofibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds loaded with unrestricted somatic stem cells were grafted onto the skin defects. The wounds were subsequently investigated 21 days after grafting. Results of mechanical and physical analyses showed good resilience and compliance to movement as a skin graft. [Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol] Abstract SKIN CANCERS & DISORDERS NF-κB-Induced MicroRNA-31 Promotes Epidermal Hyperplasia by Repressing Protein Phosphatase 6 in Psoriasis The authors report that the NF-κB activation triggered by inflammatory cytokines induces the transcription of microRNA (miRNA) miR-31, one of the most dynamic miRNAs identified in the skin of psoriatic patients and mouse models. [Nat Commun] Full Article FKBP51 Employs Both Scaffold and Isomerase Functions to Promote NF-κB Activation in Melanoma The authors demonstrated that FKBP51 physically interacted with IKK subunits, and facilitated IKK complex assembly. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article Resistance of R-Ras Knockout Mice to Skin Tumor Induction Using mice with a deletion of the R-ras gene, scientists found that R-Ras facilitates DMBA/TPA-induced skin tumor induction. [Sci Rep] Abstract Overexpression of Connexin 43 Reduces Melanoma Proliferative and Metastatic Capacity Researchers investigated the role of Connexin 43 in melanoma cell proliferation and apoptosis sensitivity in vitro, as well as metastatic capability and tumor growth in vivo. [Br J Cancer] Abstract |