Plantar Skin Exhibits Altered Physiology, Constitutive Activation of Wound-Associated Phenotypes, and Inherently Delayed Healing

Abstract

Wound research has typically been performed without regard for where the wounds are located on the body, despite well-known heterogeneities in physical and biological properties between different skin areas. Skin covering the palms and soles is highly specialized, and plantar ulcers are one of the most challenging and costly wound types to manage. Using primarily the porcine model, we show that plantar skin is molecularly and functionally more distinct from non-plantar skin than previously recognized, with unique gene and protein expression profiles, broad alterations in cellular functions, constitutive activation of many wound-associated phenotypes, and inherently delayed healing. This unusual physiology is likely to play a significant but underappreciated role in the pathogenesis of plantar ulcers, as well as the last 25+ years of futility in therapy development efforts. By revealing this critical yet unrecognized pitfall, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective therapies for these devastating non-healing wounds.