The Role of Fibroblasts in Diabetic Ulcer Healing and the Therapeutic Potential of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Insights from Single-Cell Sequencing and Animal Models

Objective: This study aims to investigate the diversity of fibroblasts present in diabetic ulcers and their impact on the wound healing process, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy in the management of diabetic ulcers. Methodology: The single-cell dataset GSE165816 from the GEO database was utilized to analyze DFU-healer and DFU-nonhealer samples in order to evaluate variations in fibroblasts. Functional characteristics of fibroblasts were investigated through analyses of cell communication, transcription factors, and pseudotime analysis. Additionally, a diabetic ulcer rat model was established to compare the therapeutic effects of PRP, followed by histological and transcriptomic sequencing analyses. Result: Single-cell sequencing analysis identified a greater abundance of fibroblasts in the group of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients who exhibited healing. The findings from biological informatics analysis emphasized the critical role of fibroblasts in the wound healing process. Treatment with PRP notably enhanced wound healing in diabetic ulcers in rats, and transcriptomic analysis indicated that gene expression levels post-PRP treatment resembled those of the non-diabetic ulcer group, with a strong association to fibroblasts. Conclusion: Fibroblasts are essential in the process of healing diabetic ulcers, as certain transcription factors have the potential to facilitate wound closure. PRP therapy has been shown to enhance the healing process in diabetic ulcer rat models, possibly through the modulation of gene expression and the promotion of extracellular matrix arrangement. This research offers novel insights and potential therapeutic approaches for managing diabetic ulcers. The rats were categorized into three distinct groups for the experiment: the non-diabetic ulcer group (sham group), the diabetic ulcer group (control group), and the diabetic ulcer + PRP treatment group (PRP group). After successfully inducing diabetic ulcers in the rats, the PRP group received 0.5 ml of PRP injected into the wound site on days 1, 7, 14, and 21, while the other groups received an equal volume of saline injections.. Subsequently, the wounds were dressed with Vaseline gauze, clean dressings, and secured with adhesive tape.