Our goal is to electrically heal wounds. Experiments from our own lab and others have demonstrated that electric fields occur naturally at corneal wounds and provide a powerful signal to guide migration of corneal epithelial cells. We demonstrated that the electrical signals could override other directional cues, such as injury stimulation, free edge and mechanical forces, in guiding migration of corneal epithelial sheets and large groups of cells. It is however not known how cornea wounds generate the electric signal. We propose to discover molecular generators at corneal wounds. Uncovering these generator molecules will give us molecular targets which we can stimulate to produce stronger electrical signals, and thus facilitate healing. In this proposal, we will 1) characterize calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) in corneal epithelial cells using electrophysiology and genetic models; 2) determine responses of CaCCs to injury and their roles in generating wound electric currents; and, 3) correct the defective wound electric signals (and wound healing) in diabetic rats and ANO1 knockout mice. We expect that the novel mechanisms discovered will provide fundamental insights as well as practical strategies for healing of chronic corneal wounds.
Electric fields occur naturally at corneal wounds, with the field polarity orientated towards the wound center. These electric fields send a powerful signal to instigate directional migration of corneal epithelial cells to heal wounds. We will investigate the molecular mechanisms of the generation and regulation of the wound electric signal, and develop strategies to regulate the electrical currents to achieve better healing of corneal wounds. This project will identify new important targets for improving defective wound healing, for example in diabetic patients.
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