Preclinical Research Uncovers Secret Behind Rapid Oral Wound Healing

A groundbreaking preclinical study has shed light on the mechanisms behind the swift and scarless healing of mouth wounds. Conducted through a collaboration between Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Stanford Medicine, and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the research reveals that certain cellular signaling pathways play a crucial role in the mouth's superior regenerative ability compared to skin. When the researchers analyzed tissue samples from the oral mucosa and facial skin of laboratory mice, they identified a key interaction involving the protein GAS6 and the enzyme AXL. This interaction inhibits a pathway called FAK, which is associated with scarring. Manipulating this pathway showed promising results—blocking AXL in mice worsened wound healing in the mouth, making it resemble skin wounds, while stimulating AXL in skin wounds enhanced regeneration similar to that of the oral mucosa.

The study suggests that targeting the GAS6-AXL signaling pathway could be a promising approach to develop therapies aimed at reducing scarring and promoting faster, scarless healing of skin wounds. "Our research helps fill a critical knowledge gap regarding why the mouth heals so efficiently," said Dr. Ophir Klein of Cedars-Sinai. The next phase involves further studies to explore how these findings translate into human healing and the development of new treatments for skin wounds.

This research was published in Science Translational Medicine and underscores the potential for innovative therapies that mimic the mouth’s natural regenerative processes. If these results are confirmed in humans, they could revolutionize wound care and scar prevention strategies.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-preclinical-mystery-rapid-mouth.html