Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702577›Full record

ArticleStem cell research & therapy2025

From inflammation to healing: the crucial role of GPR91 activation and SDH inhibition in chronic diabetic wound recovery.

Hengdeng Liu, Shixin Zhao, Hanwen Wang, Xuefeng He, Suyue Gao, Minmin Su, Miao Zhen, Shuying Chen, Lei Chen, Julin Xie

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Stem cell research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Mechanisms Involved in Pathological Succinate-Mediated Signaling.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Hengdeng Liu *Department of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Shixin Zhao *Department of Traumatic Orthopedics, Henan Provincial People's Hospital & the People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
Hanwen Wang *Department of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Xuefeng HeDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Suyue GaoDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Minmin SuDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Miao ZhenDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Shuying ChenDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
Lei ChenDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. chenlei8@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Julin XieDepartment of Burns, Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. xiejulin@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2023A1515110897Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2025A1515010193National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272274National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272297National Natural Science Foundation of China 82402910National Natural Science Foundation of China 82402911National Natural Science Foundation of China 82472558
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetic foot ulcers (DFU) typically exhibit impaired healing due to dysregulated re-epithelialization and excessive inflammation. Succinate, a key metabolic intermediate, is now understood to regulate inflammation through G Protein-Coupled Receptor 91 (GPR91) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), although its role in DFU remains unclear.

methodsCo-cultures of M2 macrophages and epithelial cells, along with clinical samples, were used to analyze the expression of GPR91 and SDH. Functional assays were performed using high glucose (HG)-treated M2 macrophages (HG-M2) and an in vivo model. Cytokine and growth factor levels in cell supernatant were measured, and molecular mechanisms were explored via qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis.

resultsElevated glucose concentrations increased succinate levels and disrupted M2 macrophage-epidermal stem cells (EpSCs) interactions. GPR91 knockdown worsened HG-M2 dysfunction, while GPR91 overexpression (OE-GPR91) enhanced anti-inflammatory responses and reduced succinate. OE-GPR91-conditioned medium preserved EpSCs stemness and promoted migration mediated by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). SDH inhibition (via Dimethyl malonate, DMM) boosted M2 macrophage activity by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulating Gpr91 expression. Mechanistically, GPR91 activated the pAkt/pGSK3β/β-catenin pathway, while DMM enhanced M2 macrophage function via the PI3K-Akt/pERK1/2 pathway.

conclusionsGPR91 upregulation and SDH inhibition improve HG-M2 macrophage function, reduce inflammation, and enhance HGF-mediated EpSCs repair. Targeting both pathways may represent a promising approach to promote DFU healing.

Indexed as

Diabetic FootInflammationReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledSuccinate DehydrogenaseWound HealingAnimalsGlucoseHepatocyte Growth FactorHumansMacrophagesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSuccinic AcidGlucoseGPR91 protein, mouseHepatocyte Growth FactorReceptors, G-Protein-CoupledSuccinate DehydrogenaseSuccinic AcidSUCNR1 protein, humanDiabetic woundsEpSCsGPR91M2 macrophagesSDHSuccinate metabolism

Identifiers

PMID40702577
PMCPMC12288363

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.