The Role of Elastin in Wound Healing and Dermal Substitute Design

Elastin makes up 2–4 % of the dry weight of the human skin dermis, yet despite its relatively low abundance, it serves major structural, mechanical, and cell-signaling roles (Fig. 5.1) (Vrhovski and Weiss 1998). The integrity of the elastic fiber network is a strong determinant of the skin’s elasticity, resilience, quality, and texture (Kielty 2006; Roten et al. 1996). Its importance is particularly exemplified by the severity of skin impairment in various genetic disorders that affect elastin expression in the dermis, such as cutis laxa and pseudoxanthoma elasticum (Kielty 2006).