Open Access

Cell migration in diabetic wound healing: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Jielin Song
    • Tong Zhao
    • Chuanfu Wang
    • Xu Sun
    • Junchao Sun
    • Zhaohui Zhang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 16, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5567
  • Article Number: 126
  • Copyright: © Song et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Diabetic wounds are among the most prevalent forms of chronic wound and are a prominent clinical challenge in contemporary healthcare. Impaired cell migration represents one of the key mechanisms underlying the difficulty in diabetic wound healing, involving multiple cell types including neutrophils, macrophages, keratinocytes, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Under the influence of pathological factors, including hyperglycemia, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and an abnormal microenvironment, the cell migration becomes impaired, leading to delayed wound healing. Key signaling pathways including Rho GTPase, PI3K/Akt, TGF‑β/Smad and Wnt/β‑catenin are involved in the regulation of cell migration. Non‑coding RNAs exert a pivotal influence on diabetic wound healing by modulating these signaling pathways or their downstream targets. Notably, stem cells and their exosomes, growth factor therapy, drug‑loaded dressings and traditional Chinese medicine can modulate cell migration via non‑coding RNAs and associated signaling pathways, thereby establishing a therapeutic regulatory axis. This review systematically consolidates advances in this field, providing novel insight into the mechanisms of cell migration in diabetic wounds and facilitating the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2025
Volume 56 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Song J, Zhao T, Wang C, Sun X, Sun J and Zhang Z: Cell migration in diabetic wound healing: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review). Int J Mol Med 56: 126, 2025.
APA
Song, J., Zhao, T., Wang, C., Sun, X., Sun, J., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Cell migration in diabetic wound healing: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review). International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 56, 126. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5567
MLA
Song, J., Zhao, T., Wang, C., Sun, X., Sun, J., Zhang, Z."Cell migration in diabetic wound healing: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 56.2 (2025): 126.
Chicago
Song, J., Zhao, T., Wang, C., Sun, X., Sun, J., Zhang, Z."Cell migration in diabetic wound healing: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies (Review)". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 56, no. 2 (2025): 126. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2025.5567