Diabetic wounds present considerable physical and economic challenges due to impaired healing and persistent inflammation, further complicated by intricate microbe-host interactions. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), in particular, represent a critical clinical issue. The human gut harbors an extensive microbial ecosystem composed of intestinal flora and their metabolic byproducts, which play pivotal roles in systemic health. Emerging research has illuminated the “gut-skin axis,” uncovering complex interactions between gut microbiota, microbiota-derived metabolites, and skin pathologies, including DFUs.
This review explores the formation and healing processes of DFUs through the lens of the gut-skin axis. It synthesizes current global research on alterations in gut and skin microbiota in DFU patients, highlighting the roles of key microbiota-derived metabolites such as lipopolysaccharides, short-chain fatty acids, and trimethylamine-N-oxide in wound development. The concept of “wound ecology” has emerged as a crucial framework for understanding these interactions. Current therapeutic approaches, including the use of probiotics, are reviewed alongside potential therapeutic targets to enhance DFU treatment.
For more insights, refer to the manuscript by Huang and colleagues: Novel Insights into the Role of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Diabetic Chronic Wounds.
For a related discussion on the potential role of Alcaligenes faecalis in promoting diabetic wound healing and shaping wound ecology, see this blog post: Enhancing Diabetic Wound Healing: A Little Help from Alcaligenes faecalis – #ActAgainstAmputation.
The review also underscores the necessity for comprehensive experimental designs to further elucidate the dynamic interplay between gut microbiota and its metabolites in the context of DFUs.
Keywords: diabetes; diabetic chronic wounds; gut microbiota; microbiota-derived metabolites; probiotics; wound ecology.
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