Involvement of RNA helicase p68 in skin wound healing process in rats

PURPOSE: RNA helicase p68 plays an important role in organ development and maturation through tuning cell proliferation. However, the character and role of p68 in the whole wound healing process need more study. METHODS: First, we characterize expression of p68 in normal rat skin development postnatal. Then, we assayed dynamic change of p68 in rat skin from different stage after injury, and explored the role of p68 in proliferation and migration of three types of wound healing related cells. RESULTS: p68 was down-regulated during skin developmental and maturation process, up-regulated after wound, peaked on day 14 and then significantly decreased. Wound fluid enhanced wound healing related cell proliferation and up-regulated expression of p68. Conversely, reducing p68 expression by RNA interference resulted in significantly slower proliferation and migration. CONCLUSION: Our results define an important role of RNA helicase p68 in skin wound healing process.