Relationship between gene expression associated with cellular senescence in cells from discarded wound dressings and wound healing: A retrospective cohort study

Aim: Senescent cells, inducing a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), lead to chronic inflammation in hard-to-heal wound tissue. However, eliminating senescent cells may impede normal wound healing due to their important role in the wound healing mechanism. Accordingly, we focused on wound exudates in hard-to-heal wounds, which contain many inflammation biomarkers consistent with SASP. Therefore, we hypothesized that senescent cells might be present in the exudates and induce chronic inflammation. This study investigated the relationship between gene expression associated with cellular senescence in exudates from pressure injuries and wound healing status.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved patients treated by a pressure injury team. We collected viable cells from wound dressings and analyzed gene expression. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated between cellular senescence and SASP expression. The relationship between the gene expression of cellular senescence and the wound area reduction rate by the following week was examined using a mixed-effects model.

Results: CDKN1A-related to cellular senescence-was expressed in 96.3 % of 54 samples, and CDKN1A expression and SASPs positively correlated (PLAU: r = 0.68 and TNF: r = 0.34). Low CDKN1A expression was statistically associated with a large wound area reduction rate (β = 0.83, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Gene expression of both cellular senescence and SASP factor in wound dressings suggests the presence of cellular senescence. Senescent cells in wound dressings could be associated with delayed wound healing in the following week.