Role of lipid mediators in diabetic wound healing

The lipidome consists of a diverse group of molecules that are amphipathic to hydrophobic in nature. For ease of classification, these lipids are separated into eight categories, namely, fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sterol lipids, saccharolipids, polyketides, and prenol lipids. The wide structural and functional variety observed among the constituents of the lipidome enables multiple diverse functions within biological systems. These functions include providing structure to cells and organelles via the formation of self-healing membranes, storage of energy, acting as direct sources of energy as well as inter- and intracellular signaling. With respect to signaling, certain lipids can either act as direct signaling molecules, while others can indirectly affect signaling via changes to membrane structure. Considering the diversity of functions attributed to the lipidome, it is unsurprising that the lipids play a direct role in the process of wound healing. The many functions of the lipidome during wound healing include hemostasis, inflammation, and resolution of inflammation, cell migration and proliferation, angiogenesis and in the case of cutaneous wounds, establishment of the epithelial barrier. Components of the lipidome are also integrally involved in the onset of diabetes. Additionally, diabetes itself tends to change lipid-signaling events. As such, a significant component of the nonhealing phenotype associated with diabetic wounds can be attributed dysregulated lipid metabolic events. Described within this chapter is the role of the lipid mediators in diabetic wound healing as well as the gaps in our knowledge on this topic.