Human cWAF LC-MS/MS

Chronic skin wounds accompany many widespread, chronic and age-related diseases and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Both, keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts contribute to the pathomechanisms observed in chronic wounds. Whereas dysregulated pathways in the epidermis have been extensively studied, little is known on the influence of dermal fibroblasts on chronic wounding. We isolated fibroblasts from chronic wounds and show that they are a distinct cell type that can be propagated in vitro. Chronic wound-associated fibroblasts (cWAFs) exhibit a unique proteome profile characteristic for a decreased propensity for cell proliferation and migration but with an enhanced ability to contract the extracellular matrix. Commonly, they display lysosomal dysfunction and dysregulated TGFbeta signaling. Here, we define intrinsic and extrinsic properties of cWAFs that may contribute to pathological wound healing.