Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature

PurposeDiabetic wounds are characterized by delayed healing, and the resulting diabetic foot ulcer may lead to severe complications, including amputations and mortality. This study aimed to identify potential small molecule drug candidates that can enhance diabetic wound healing through integrating...

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Main Authors: Jiamin Shang, Zhaoyu Liu, Meidai Liang, Zijie Yin, Zeyu Yang, Xiaomeng Ye, Guanhua Du, Xiuying Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1576056/full
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author Jiamin Shang
Zhaoyu Liu
Meidai Liang
Zijie Yin
Zeyu Yang
Xiaomeng Ye
Guanhua Du
Xiuying Yang
author_facet Jiamin Shang
Zhaoyu Liu
Meidai Liang
Zijie Yin
Zeyu Yang
Xiaomeng Ye
Guanhua Du
Xiuying Yang
author_sort Jiamin Shang
collection DOAJ
description PurposeDiabetic wounds are characterized by delayed healing, and the resulting diabetic foot ulcer may lead to severe complications, including amputations and mortality. This study aimed to identify potential small molecule drug candidates that can enhance diabetic wound healing through integrating transcriptome signature and experimental validation strategies.MethodGene expression dataset (GSE147890) from a diabetic skin humanized mice model in the Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes between diabetic and normal skin, as well as the wound edge at 24 h. The DEGs were integrated with wound-related genes from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database to construct a diabetes-specific wound gene profile. Then, the expression signatures were analyzed using the ClusterProfiler package in R for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Hub genes were identified through the String database and Cytoscope software. The Connectivity Map (CMap) was employed to predict compounds with potential therapeutic effects on diabetic wound healing. These predications were validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments.ResultsA total of 167 DEGs were identified between diabetic and normal wounds, with significant enrichment in biological processes related to the extracellular matrix and collagen. The top ten hub genes were predominantly associated with collagen synthesis and inflammatory responses. CMap analysis identified 12 small-molecule compounds, top four of which were further investigated. In vitro experiments demonstrated that two compounds promoted fibroblast proliferation. In vivo studies revealed that compound CG-930 enhanced early inflammatory responses and upregulated the Nod-like receptor signaling pathway, significantly improving wound healing in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic mice.ConclusionThis study highlights the altered expression profiles associated with delayed diabetic wound healing, including reduced inflammation and collagen production. Further drug screening identified compound CG-930 as a novel therapeutic agent with significant potential to promote wound healing in diabetic conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-37f9fe760b534af792a4c0c6feefdfbe2025-08-20T03:20:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15760561576056Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signatureJiamin Shang0Zhaoyu Liu1Meidai Liang2Zijie Yin3Zeyu Yang4Xiaomeng Ye5Guanhua Du6Xiuying Yang7Beijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Discovery and Polymorphic Druggability Research for Cerebrovascular Diseases, Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaPurposeDiabetic wounds are characterized by delayed healing, and the resulting diabetic foot ulcer may lead to severe complications, including amputations and mortality. This study aimed to identify potential small molecule drug candidates that can enhance diabetic wound healing through integrating transcriptome signature and experimental validation strategies.MethodGene expression dataset (GSE147890) from a diabetic skin humanized mice model in the Gene Expression Omnibus database was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes between diabetic and normal skin, as well as the wound edge at 24 h. The DEGs were integrated with wound-related genes from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database to construct a diabetes-specific wound gene profile. Then, the expression signatures were analyzed using the ClusterProfiler package in R for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Hub genes were identified through the String database and Cytoscope software. The Connectivity Map (CMap) was employed to predict compounds with potential therapeutic effects on diabetic wound healing. These predications were validated through in vitro and in vivo experiments.ResultsA total of 167 DEGs were identified between diabetic and normal wounds, with significant enrichment in biological processes related to the extracellular matrix and collagen. The top ten hub genes were predominantly associated with collagen synthesis and inflammatory responses. CMap analysis identified 12 small-molecule compounds, top four of which were further investigated. In vitro experiments demonstrated that two compounds promoted fibroblast proliferation. In vivo studies revealed that compound CG-930 enhanced early inflammatory responses and upregulated the Nod-like receptor signaling pathway, significantly improving wound healing in streptozotocin (STZ) -induced diabetic mice.ConclusionThis study highlights the altered expression profiles associated with delayed diabetic wound healing, including reduced inflammation and collagen production. Further drug screening identified compound CG-930 as a novel therapeutic agent with significant potential to promote wound healing in diabetic conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1576056/fulldiabetic woundbioinformaticstranscriptomedrug discoverymechanism
spellingShingle Jiamin Shang
Zhaoyu Liu
Meidai Liang
Zijie Yin
Zeyu Yang
Xiaomeng Ye
Guanhua Du
Xiuying Yang
Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
Frontiers in Pharmacology
diabetic wound
bioinformatics
transcriptome
drug discovery
mechanism
title Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
title_full Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
title_fullStr Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
title_full_unstemmed Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
title_short Identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
title_sort identification of compounds to promote diabetic wound healing based on transcriptome signature
topic diabetic wound
bioinformatics
transcriptome
drug discovery
mechanism
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1576056/full
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AT meidailiang identificationofcompoundstopromotediabeticwoundhealingbasedontranscriptomesignature
AT zijieyin identificationofcompoundstopromotediabeticwoundhealingbasedontranscriptomesignature
AT zeyuyang identificationofcompoundstopromotediabeticwoundhealingbasedontranscriptomesignature
AT xiaomengye identificationofcompoundstopromotediabeticwoundhealingbasedontranscriptomesignature
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