Temporal analysis of gene expression by microarray during wound healing

Wound healing is a complex biologic process that involves the action of hundreds of genes coordinated by growth factors and signaling molecules. However, little is known about the naturally occurring levels of growth factors/receptors expressed at the wound site. In this study, we used an in-house growth factor/receptor-enhanced microarray to determine the temporal gene expression profile of wound healing in the ear-punched tissue of MRL/MpJ-Fas(1pr) (MRL) mice. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to group genes on the basis of the temporal expression pattern. The altered gene expression profiles verified the involvement of many known growth factors/receptors and identified novel participants in wound healing. Two of the three most highly up-regulated genes that were identified at the inflammatory stage have no established roles in wound healing and merit further functional investigation. The dynamic change of expression over time and diverse patterns of expression support the concept that a complex local milieu, rather than a single growth factor, influences the rate of wound healing.