Figure 1.
Loss of MMP-8 results in delayed wound healing. Excisional wounds were performed in MMP8−/− mice and wild-type littermates, and the healing process was monitored at different time points. A) Representative images of wounds from wild-type and MMP8−/− mice at different time points. Wild-type mice completely healed the wound area between 8 and 9 days after injury. However, mice lacking MMP8 showed a delay in this process, and complete healing was not observed until 13–15 days postinjury. Scale bar: 5 mm. B) Wound area was quantified every two days and expressed as the percentage of wound closure for each genotype (n=8; *P<0.05). C) Western blot analysis of skin extracts from wild-type (+/+) and MMP8−/− (−/−) animals at different time points after injury. MMP-8 was detected in injured skin in wild-type animals from days 1 to 7 after injury.