Keratinocyte growth factor signalling: A mathematical model of dermal- epidermal interaction in epidermal wound healing

Helen J. Wearing, Jonathan A. Sherratt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A wealth of growth factors are known to regulate the various cell functions involved in the repair process. An understanding of their therapeutic value is essential to achieve improved wound healing. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) seems to have a unique role as a mediator of mesenchymal-epithelial interactions: it originates from mesenchymal cells, yet acts exclusively on epithelial cells. In this paper, we study KGF's role in epidermal wound healing, since its production is substantially up- regulated after injury. We begin by modelling the dermal-epidermal signalling mechanism of KGF to investigate how this extra production affects the signal range. We then incorporate the effect of KGF on cell proliferation, and using travelling wave analysis we obtain an approximation for the rate of healing. Our modelling shows that the large up-regulation of KGF post-wounding extends the KGF signal range but is above optimal for the rate of wound closure. We predict that other functions of KGF may be more important than its role as a mitogen for the healing process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-62
Number of pages22
JournalMathematical Biosciences
Volume165
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2000

Keywords

  • Dermal-epidermal interaction
  • Keratinocyte growth factor
  • Travelling waves
  • Wound healing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Keratinocyte growth factor signalling: A mathematical model of dermal- epidermal interaction in epidermal wound healing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this