Tissue Augmentation in Wound Healing: the Role of Endothelial and Epithelial Cells

INTRODUCTION: Wounds and their complications present a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in everyday clinical practice. In order to reduce the wound burden, much effort has been directed into the physiology of healing and new therapeutic approaches. AIM: This paper provides an overview from the literature about the role of endothelial and epithelial cells in tissue filler employment for wound healing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The scientific literature was reviewed through PubMed, Medline and Science Direct. The articles were chosen in correlation with the study objective and their scientific relevance. RESULTS: Successful wound healing depends on many diverse processes, cell types and molecular mediators. The definitive aim of wound healing is a properly healed wound. Tissue fillers are becoming an important alternative in wound management, although augmentation of soft tissue can present a demanding problem due to the difficulties in tissue survival. In order to prevent its failure, an optimal vascular network needs to form from wound edges into the filler. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the importance of chemotaxis and angiogenesis in various physiological and pathological processes, both events present an extensive area of intense research. Additionally, epithelial cells are needed to cover the wound defect and sealing the wound environment from outer world.