Mast Cells Are Required in the Proliferation and Remodeling Phases of Microdeformational Wound Therapy

Background: Mast cells are important in numerous inflammatory processes. They are also mechanosensitive and likely play an important role in wound healing. The authors hypothesized that mechanical alteration of the wound environment with a distributed suction device could link mast cells to the healing cascade. Methods: Controlled uniform full-thickness wound surface microdeformations were induced by suction combined with an open-pore polyurethane foam (microdeformational wound therapy) in mast cell-deficient WWv mice and their mast cell-sufficient littermates. Wound healing parameters were assessed in the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases of healing. Results: Wound tissue granulation, cell proliferation, blood vessel sprouting, and collagen maturation were found to be mast cell-dependent throughout the proliferating and remodeling stages of healing. Conclusion: Mast cells are critical in the robust granulation tissue response seen in microdeformational wound therapy and in the modulation of the remodeling phase of wound healing. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 128: 649e, 2011.)