Of the androgen receptor, which enhances the inflammatory response through an

Of the androgen receptor, which enhances the PNPP site inflammatory response through an increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha expression23. The quantity and distribution of several growth factors is also different between aged and young mice. Expression of PDGF, Epidermal Growth Factor and their cognate receptors is delayed with increasing animal age24. Alterations of the inflammatory response are also found in aged humans. Although total leukocyte and neutrophil counts are slightly lower in samples from older individuals25, granulocyte adherence is greater in aged subjects especially in women26. Phagocytosis is decreased in neutrophils from old, compared with young, healthy donors, potentially secondary to reduced neutrophil CD16 expression in the aged27. In summary, inflammation is an important part of the initial host response to injury and pathogens. Aging is sometimes associated with a persistent pro-inflammatory state, at the same time there is a reduction in the ability to generate an acute inflammatory response during injury. This paradox can result in disrupted wound healing due to lack of synchronization between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. IIB. Proliferation and tissue formation Several hours after injury, re-epithelization begins28. Wounded epidermal cells express integrin receptors, produce collagenase and activate plasmin by plasminogen activator. These changes allow them to separate from neighboring cells, interact with and degrade extracellular matrix proteins, and enable movement from the dermis into the margins of the wound area. Epidermal cells in the wound margins begin to proliferate about one or two days after the injury, producing a scaffold of basement membrane proteins from the margins inward. During this process, mediators and cytokines (interleukins, – and – chemokines) that regulate angiogenesis and influence the microcirculation are released29. Several days after the injury, macrophages, fibroblasts and blood vessels simultaneously invade the wound30. Macrophages produce growth factors, such as TGF-1 and PDGF. Fibroblasts synthesize a new matrix (first a provisional matrix of fibrin, Pamapimod chemical information collagen III, fibronectin and hyaluronan; later a structural matrix of primarily collagen I replaces the provisional matrix). Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients, which is essential to sustain the newly formed granulation tissue. As an example, the deposition of collagen relies on proline hydroxlyase, an oxygen-dependent enzyme31. Studies in animal models demonstrate that proliferation of the cell types responsible for tissue formation is reduced in aging32 (Figure 3B). As an example, punch biopsies obtained repeatedly over the life span of hamsters found that in vitro proliferative capacity of dermal fibroblasts mimicked in vivo dermal wound repair33. In healthy human volunteers, superficial, split-thickness wound epithelization is delayed in older persons (over 65 years old) when compared to the control group (18?5 years old)34. Most studies suggest that wound angiogenesis is also decreased by approximately 70 one week after injury in aged animals35, 36. Others propose an altered, dysregulated response with some extracellular matrix components increased, some decreased, and many showing disrupted ultrastructure37. Impaired endothelial cell function and reduced VEGF expression are possible mechanismsAnesthesiology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 March 01.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA.Of the androgen receptor, which enhances the inflammatory response through an increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha expression23. The quantity and distribution of several growth factors is also different between aged and young mice. Expression of PDGF, Epidermal Growth Factor and their cognate receptors is delayed with increasing animal age24. Alterations of the inflammatory response are also found in aged humans. Although total leukocyte and neutrophil counts are slightly lower in samples from older individuals25, granulocyte adherence is greater in aged subjects especially in women26. Phagocytosis is decreased in neutrophils from old, compared with young, healthy donors, potentially secondary to reduced neutrophil CD16 expression in the aged27. In summary, inflammation is an important part of the initial host response to injury and pathogens. Aging is sometimes associated with a persistent pro-inflammatory state, at the same time there is a reduction in the ability to generate an acute inflammatory response during injury. This paradox can result in disrupted wound healing due to lack of synchronization between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. IIB. Proliferation and tissue formation Several hours after injury, re-epithelization begins28. Wounded epidermal cells express integrin receptors, produce collagenase and activate plasmin by plasminogen activator. These changes allow them to separate from neighboring cells, interact with and degrade extracellular matrix proteins, and enable movement from the dermis into the margins of the wound area. Epidermal cells in the wound margins begin to proliferate about one or two days after the injury, producing a scaffold of basement membrane proteins from the margins inward. During this process, mediators and cytokines (interleukins, – and – chemokines) that regulate angiogenesis and influence the microcirculation are released29. Several days after the injury, macrophages, fibroblasts and blood vessels simultaneously invade the wound30. Macrophages produce growth factors, such as TGF-1 and PDGF. Fibroblasts synthesize a new matrix (first a provisional matrix of fibrin, collagen III, fibronectin and hyaluronan; later a structural matrix of primarily collagen I replaces the provisional matrix). Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients, which is essential to sustain the newly formed granulation tissue. As an example, the deposition of collagen relies on proline hydroxlyase, an oxygen-dependent enzyme31. Studies in animal models demonstrate that proliferation of the cell types responsible for tissue formation is reduced in aging32 (Figure 3B). As an example, punch biopsies obtained repeatedly over the life span of hamsters found that in vitro proliferative capacity of dermal fibroblasts mimicked in vivo dermal wound repair33. In healthy human volunteers, superficial, split-thickness wound epithelization is delayed in older persons (over 65 years old) when compared to the control group (18?5 years old)34. Most studies suggest that wound angiogenesis is also decreased by approximately 70 one week after injury in aged animals35, 36. Others propose an altered, dysregulated response with some extracellular matrix components increased, some decreased, and many showing disrupted ultrastructure37. Impaired endothelial cell function and reduced VEGF expression are possible mechanismsAnesthesiology. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2015 March 01.NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA.