Effect of palmitoleic acid on NET formation and NETose in diabetic wounds

• Grant number: 23/05805-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Elaine Hatanaka Dermargos
• Grantee: Elaine Hatanaka Dermargos
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Dermargos Oliveira ; Beatriz Belmiro Dias ; Rui Curi

Abstract

Diabetic wounds are a worldwide public health problem impacting patients' quality of life. The difficulty in tissue repair in diabetics is due to factors such as the presence of glycated proteins, poor perfusion, peripheral neuropathy, leukocyte dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Experimental models for diabetes research include genetically modified animals, obesogenic diet regimes, and induction by drugs such as streptozotocin. They are essential for understanding the pathogenesis and progression of the disease and extrapolating their results to humans. The Goto-Kakizaki and streptozotocin-treated Wistar rats allow us to investigate the complex multisystem interactions of wound healing in diabetes and test different types of topical treatments for healing. In this sense, palmitoleic acid is a promising agent in treating wounds because, in addition to the biological effects, it has a low cost, maintains skin hydration, and facilitates changing dressings. We demonstrated that topical application of the acid has anti-inflammatory and healing actions, decreasing the inflammation induced in neutrophils and modulating the signalling triggered by keratinocytes. (AU)