Investigating the Role of Thrombospondin-2 in Extracellular Matrix Formation and Fibroblast Migration in Diabetes

Overview

One of the major complications of diabetes mellitus is poor wound healing, which leads to increased morbidities and mortalities. Thrombospondin-2 (TSP2), is a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and is expressed in the proliferating and remodeling phases of wound healing. As a matricellular protein, TSP2 influences cell matrix interactions and is implicated in different wound healing processes. However, there is little information regarding the effect of TSP2 on ECM remodeling and cell functions, specifically the migration of fibroblasts in wound healing. The ultimate goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that TSP2 alters the components of the ECM and function of diabetic cells and that this contributes to poor wound healing. Three types of fibroblast cells were used in this study: wild type, diabetic, and diabetic with TSP2 knockout. The experiments were divided into three components; the first part examined the effect of TSP2 on the migration of fibroblasts, while the second studied the effect of TSP2 on the structures of cell-derived ECM. The third part studied the migration of fibroblasts through the cell-derived ECM. My findings confirmed that TSP2 affects the formation of ECM by increasing the size of fibers, but the results do not indicate differing protein deposition. Additionally, experiments showed that diabetic cells migrate slower and secrete ECM that retards the migration of WT cells. These defects are rescued when diabetic cells are depleted of TSP2. Taken together, these observations provide insights into the role of excess TSP2 in diabetic wound healing.

Competition history

• JSHS 2020 Category not listed

Resources

• National JSHS abstract book ↗

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