2. Academic Validation
  3. Urolithin A enhances diabetic wound healing: Insights from parkin-mediated mitophagy in endothelial progenitor cells

Urolithin A enhances diabetic wound healing: Insights from parkin-mediated mitophagy in endothelial progenitor cells

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2025 May 16:155:114572. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114572.
Xia Fang 1,  Zhenxuan Shao 2,  Hongfeng Ding 3,  Haoxiang Xu 3,  Zhuolong Tu 4,  Hui Wang 5,  Dawei Li 6,  Cheng Huang 7,  Chang Jiang 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Arthroplasty, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 317500, China; Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310017, China.
  • 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310017, China.
  • 3 Department of Arthroplasty, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 317500, China.
  • 4 Department of Burn, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China.
  • 5 Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310017, China.
  • 6 Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310017, China. Electronic address: dawy_lee@sina.com.
  • 7 Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310017, China. Electronic address: huangcheng001@zju.edu.cn.
  • 8 Department of Arthroplasty, The First People's Hospital of Wenling, The Affiliated Wenling Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 317500, China. Electronic address: 595645040@qq.com.
PMID: 40203794 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114572
Abstract

Diabetes is often associated with delayed wound healing, where endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a key role in maintaining vascular integrity and promoting angiogenesis. Urolithin A, a metabolite derived from pomegranates, strawberries, and nuts, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in reversing damage in various disease models, indicating its potential in facilitating diabetic wound healing. In this study, we investigated the effects of Urolithin A on mitochondrial dysfunction, Apoptosis, and impaired function in EPCs treated with high glucose. Through Sequencing and molecular docking analysis, we found that Urolithin A exerts its therapeutic action by upregulating Parkin and activating Mitophagy. Furthermore, Urolithin A alleviated delayed wound healing in diabetic rat models. In conclusion, Urolithin A holds promise as a therapeutic agent for improving diabetes-related delayed wound healing by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction and enhancing EPC function.

Keywords

Diabetic wound healing; Endothelial progenitor cells; Mitophagy; Urolithin A.

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