Apoptosis in skin wound healing

Apoptosis, a basic physiological process in which unwanted cells are removed, plays an important role in the wound healing process. In normal skin wound healing, apoptosis is responsible for the removal of inflammatory cells and the evolution of granulation tissue into scar. Dysregulation in apoptosis can lead to abnormal wound healing, such as hypertrophic scar and keloid formation. This review first provides an overview of the basic molecular aspects of apoptosis and wound healing, followed by the elucidation of apoptosis in the normal and abnormal wound healing processes. As research in this area ensues, knowledge of apoptosis may be helpful in designing novel therapies for wound healing.