Chronic wounds are characterized by a persistent hyperinflammatory environment that inhibits progression toward regenerative
wound closure. Such chronic wounds are particularly prevalent in diabetic patients, often necessitating distal
limb amputation, but they also occur in non-diabetic and elderly patients. Inducible expression of HoxA3, a
homeobox family member and master regulatory
transcription factor for
body patterning, has been shown to promote
wound closure in diabetic mice when administered topically as a
plasmid encapsulated in a hydrogel. Here, we provide independent reproducibility of basal
in vivo studies of
diabetic wound closure and further expand on these studies while minimizing the estimated minimum
dose threshold. Furthermore, we observed similarities in spontaneous
wound healing rates between non-diabetic aged mice and diabetic young mice, which motivated us to test the topical application of HoxA3 plasmids in non-diabetic aged mice, where accelerated
wound healing was also observed. In these short studies, no significant adverse effects were observed macroscopically or by local
histology. Local administration of HoxA3, either as a
plasmid or as a future
alternative therapy, is a noteworthy translational option for chronic wounds.