Estrogen deprivation is one of the major factors responsible for many age-related processes including poor wound healing in postmenopausal women. However, the reported side-effects of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) have precluded broad clinical administration. Therefore, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) have been developed to overcome the detrimental side effects of ERT on breast and/or uterine tissues. The use of natural products isolated from plants (e.g., soy) may represent a promising source of biologically active compounds (e.g., genistein) as efficient alternatives to conventional treatment. Genistein as natural SERM has the unique ability to selectively act as agonist or antagonist in a tissue-specific manner, i.e., it improves skin repair and simultaneously exerts anti-cancer and chemopreventive properties. Hence, we present here a wound healing phases-based review of the most studied naturally occurring SERM.

• Keywords
• SERM, isoflavone, phytoestrogen, regeneration, repair, scar, skin wound,
• MeSH
• Phytoestrogens pharmacology   MeSH
• Genistein pharmacology   MeSH
• Wound Healing drug effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Regenerative Medicine trends   MeSH
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators pharmacology   MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Phytoestrogens MeSH
• Genistein MeSH
• Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators MeSH

Understanding the molecular and cellular processes in skin wound healing can pave the way for devising innovative concepts by turning the identified natural effectors into therapeutic tools. Based on the concept of broad‑scale engagement of members of the family of galactoside‑binding lectins (galectins) in pathophysiological processes, such as cancer or tissue repair/regeneration, the present study investigated the potential of galectins‑1 (Gal‑1) and ‑3 (Gal‑3) in wound healing. Human dermal fibroblasts, which are key cells involved in skin wound healing, responded to galectin exposure (Gal‑1 at 300 or Gal‑3 at 600 ng/ml) with selective changes in gene expression among a panel of 84 wound‑healing‑related genes, as well as remodeling of the extracellular matrix. In the case of Gal‑3, positive expression of Ki67 and cell number increased when using a decellularized matrix produced by Gal‑3‑treated fibroblasts as substrate for culture of interfollicular keratinocytes. In vivo wounds were topically treated with 20 ng/ml Gal‑1 or ‑3, and collagen score was found to be elevated in excisional wound repair in rats treated with Gal‑3. The tensile strength measured in incisions was significantly increased from 79.5±17.5 g/mm2 in controls to 103.1±21.4 g/mm2 after 21 days of healing. These data warrant further testing mixtures of galectins and other types of compounds, for example a combination of galectins and TGF‑β1.

• Keywords
• extracellular matrix, fibroblast, keratinocyte, lectin, regeneration,
• MeSH
• Fibroblasts metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Galectins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Collagen biosynthesis   MeSH
• Blood Proteins biosynthesis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Tensile Strength * MeSH
• Wounds and Injuries metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation * MeSH
• Dermis metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Galectins MeSH
• Collagen MeSH
• Blood Proteins MeSH
• LGALS3 protein, human MeSH Browser