Controlled decorin delivery from injectable microgels promotes scarless vocal fold repair.

ABSTRACT: Vocal fold (VF) scarring is a leading cause of poor voice, yet no therapies exist to prevent its progression. Current treatments, such as intracordal steroid injections, offer limited efficacy and carry significant off-target toxicities. To identify targeted anti-scarring strategies, we performed transcriptomics of human VF myofibroblasts, the cellular drivers of VF scarring, and identified the proteoglycan decorin (DCN) as downregulated in activated myofibroblasts. We also show a time-dependent decrease in DCN during fibrotic wound healing in a preclinical rat model of VF scarring. Administration of DCN suppressed VF myofibroblast activation by reducing pro-fibrotic gene expression, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels, and cell contractility. DCN was encapsulated in hyaluronic acid micro

SUBMITTER: Friedman RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12262458 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature