Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Journal stats
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Journal stats
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact

Usage Information

α-Ketoglutarate accelerates cutaneous wound healing through modulating the epithelial-fibroblast niche
Yuhan Li, Weimin Lin, Denghao Huang, Yueying Wang, Yimeng Cai, Jie Xiang, Linfeng Liu, Xinxing Shuai, Qi Yin, Shuang Jiang, Malcolm Xing, Yuan Wang, Leixiao Yu, Quan Yuan
Yuhan Li, Weimin Lin, Denghao Huang, Yueying Wang, Yimeng Cai, Jie Xiang, Linfeng Liu, Xinxing Shuai, Qi Yin, Shuang Jiang, Malcolm Xing, Yuan Wang, Leixiao Yu, Quan Yuan
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Cell biology Metabolism

α-Ketoglutarate accelerates cutaneous wound healing through modulating the epithelial-fibroblast niche

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Wound healing is a highly dynamic and metabolically demanding process. However, the primary drivers of metabolic alterations involved in this process remain incompletely understood. Here, we employed multiomics profiling of clinical samples to investigate metabolic alterations during wound healing. Our analyses revealed significant activation of the TCA cycle and identified α-ketoglutarate (αKG) as a central regulator orchestrating the reparative phase. Systemic administration of αKG promoted wound closure and re-epithelialization, characterized by enhanced neo-tissue formation with an extended epithelial tongue. Mechanistically, αKG promoted cell proliferation via the cell cycle pathway and enhanced fibroblast-derived TGF-β signaling to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition–like programs in epithelial cells. To address the spatial metabolic heterogeneity, we developed a transdermal MN platform based on gelatin methacryloyl for localized αKG delivery, further accelerating tissue repair. Collectively, these findings identify αKG as a metabolic driver of wound repair, reveal its dual role in modulating the epithelial-fibroblast microenvironment, and introduce a targeted bioengineering strategy with translational potential for both acute and chronic wound management.

Authors

Yuhan Li, Weimin Lin, Denghao Huang, Yueying Wang, Yimeng Cai, Jie Xiang, Linfeng Liu, Xinxing Shuai, Qi Yin, Shuang Jiang, Malcolm Xing, Yuan Wang, Leixiao Yu, Quan Yuan

×

Usage data is cumulative from September 2026 through September 2026.

Usage JCI PMC
Text version 119 0
PDF 29 0
Figure 81 0
Supplemental data 38 0
Citation downloads 25 0
Totals 292 0
Total Views 292

Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.

Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.

Advertisement

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts