All Publications


  • Livedoid vasculopathy. Dermatology online journal Leeolou, M. C., Rieger, K. E., Yeh, J. E. 2023; 29 (5)

    Abstract

    Livedoid vasculopathy is a painful thrombo-occlusive vascular disorder characterized by spontaneous thrombosis in medium-size arterioles, which causes localized hypoxia and skin ulceration. As livedoid vasculopathy is rare, case reports are the primary means of expanding collective knowledge about its presentation and response to various therapies.

    View details for DOI 10.5070/D329562414

    View details for PubMedID 38478650

  • Allometrically scaling tissue forces drive pathological foreign-body responses to implants via Rac2-activated myeloid cells. Nature biomedical engineering Padmanabhan, J., Chen, K., Sivaraj, D., Henn, D., Kuehlmann, B. A., Kussie, H. C., Zhao, E. T., Kahn, A., Bonham, C. A., Dohi, T., Beck, T. C., Trotsyuk, A. A., Stern-Buchbinder, Z. A., Than, P. A., Hosseini, H. S., Barrera, J. A., Magbual, N. J., Leeolou, M. C., Fischer, K. S., Tigchelaar, S. S., Lin, J. Q., Perrault, D. P., Borrelli, M. R., Kwon, S. H., Maan, Z. N., Dunn, J. C., Nazerali, R., Januszyk, M., Prantl, L., Gurtner, G. C. 2023

    Abstract

    Small animals do not replicate the severity of the human foreign-body response (FBR) to implants. Here we show that the FBR can be driven by forces generated at the implant surface that, owing to allometric scaling, increase exponentially with body size. We found that the human FBR is mediated by immune-cell-specific RAC2 mechanotransduction signalling, independently of the chemistry and mechanical properties of the implant, and that a pathological FBR that is human-like at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels can be induced in mice via the application of human-tissue-scale forces through a vibrating silicone implant. FBRs to such elevated extrinsic forces in the mice were also mediated by the activation of Rac2 signalling in a subpopulation of mechanoresponsive myeloid cells, which could be substantially reduced via the pharmacological or genetic inhibition of Rac2. Our findings provide an explanation for the stark differences in FBRs observed in small animals and humans, and have implications for the design and safety of implantable devices.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41551-023-01091-5

    View details for PubMedID 37749310

    View details for PubMedCentralID 2966551

  • Nitric oxide-releasing gel accelerates healing in a diabetic murine splinted excisional wound model. Frontiers in medicine Sivaraj, D., Noishiki, C., Kosaric, N., Kiwanuka, H., Kussie, H. C., Henn, D., Fischer, K. S., Trotsyuk, A. A., Greco, A. H., Kuehlmann, B. A., Quintero, F., Leeolou, M. C., Granoski, M. B., Hostler, A. C., Hahn, W. W., Januszyk, M., Murad, F., Chen, K., Gurtner, G. C. 2023; 10: 1060758

    Abstract

    According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 9-12 million patients suffer from chronic ulceration each year, costing the healthcare system over USD $25 billion annually. There is a significant unmet need for new and efficacious therapies to accelerate closure of non-healing wounds. Nitric Oxide (NO) levels typically increase rapidly after skin injury in the inflammatory phase and gradually diminish as wound healing progresses. The effect of increased NO concentration on promoting re-epithelization and wound closure has yet to be described in the context of diabetic wound healing.In this study, we investigated the effects of local administration of an NO-releasing gel on excisional wound healing in diabetic mice. The excisional wounds of each mouse received either NO-releasing gel or a control phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-releasing gel treatment twice daily until complete wound closure.Topical administration of NO-gel significantly accelerated the rate of wound healing as compared with PBS-gel-treated mice during the later stages of healing. The treatment also promoted a more regenerative ECM architecture resulting in shorter, less dense, and more randomly aligned collagen fibers within the healed scars, similar to that of unwounded skin. Wound healing promoting factors fibronectin, TGF-Ī²1, CD31, and VEGF were significantly elevated in NO vs. PBS-gel-treated wounds.The results of this work may have important clinical implications for the management of patients with non-healing wounds.

    View details for DOI 10.3389/fmed.2023.1060758

    View details for PubMedID 36999070

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC10045479

  • Bullous impetigo on a young man's abdomen. Dermatology online journal Young, P. A., Leeolou, M. C., Narala, S., Saleem, A., Bae, G. H. 2023; 29 (1)

    Abstract

    Bullous impetigo is a variant of epidermal infection by Staphylococcus aureus, representing 30% of impetigo cases. Its clinical appearance may mimic certain autoimmune blistering dermatoses and other cutaneous infections, sometimes necessitating careful evaluation. Herein we present a patient with bullous impetigo in a striking and characteristic appearance and briefly overview the approach to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

    View details for DOI 10.5070/D329160220

    View details for PubMedID 37040917

  • Livedoid vasculopathy Dermatology Online Journal Leeolou, M. C., Rieger, K. E., Yeh, J. E. 2023; 29 (5)

    View details for DOI 10.5070/D329562414

  • Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in a young woman. Dermatology online journal Leeolou, M. C., Young, P. A., Saleem, A., Narala, S., Bae, G. H. 2022; 28 (6)

    Abstract

    Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (CD4+PCSM-LPD) is a low-grade cutaneous T cell disorder. There is no standardized approach to treatment of CD4+ PCSM-LPD due to its rarity. Herein, we discuss a 33-year-old woman with CD4+PCSM-LPD which resolved after a partial biopsy. We highlight that conservative and local treatment modalities should be considered prior to utilizing more aggressive and invasive treatment options.

    View details for DOI 10.5070/D328659726

    View details for PubMedID 36809093

  • Wireless, closed-loop, smart bandage with integrated sensors and stimulators for advanced wound care and accelerated healing. Nature biotechnology Jiang, Y., Trotsyuk, A. A., Niu, S., Henn, D., Chen, K., Shih, C. C., Larson, M. R., Mermin-Bunnell, A. M., Mittal, S., Lai, J. C., Saberi, A., Beard, E., Jing, S., Zhong, D., Steele, S. R., Sun, K., Jain, T., Zhao, E., Neimeth, C. R., Viana, W. G., Tang, J., Sivaraj, D., Padmanabhan, J., Rodrigues, M., Perrault, D. P., Chattopadhyay, A., Maan, Z. N., Leeolou, M. C., Bonham, C. A., Kwon, S. H., Kussie, H. C., Fischer, K. S., Gurusankar, G., Liang, K., Zhang, K., Nag, R., Snyder, M. P., Januszyk, M., Gurtner, G. C., Bao, Z. 2022

    Abstract

    'Smart' bandages based on multimodal wearable devices could enable real-time physiological monitoring and active intervention to promote healing of chronic wounds. However, there has been limited development in incorporation of both sensors and stimulators for the current smart bandage technologies. Additionally, while adhesive electrodes are essential for robust signal transduction, detachment of existing adhesive dressings can lead to secondary damage to delicate wound tissues without switchable adhesion. Here we overcome these issues by developing a flexible bioelectronic system consisting of wirelessly powered, closed-loop sensing and stimulation circuits with skin-interfacing hydrogel electrodes capable of on-demand adhesion and detachment. In mice, we demonstrate that our wound care system can continuously monitor skin impedance and temperature and deliver electrical stimulation in response to the wound environment. Across preclinical wound models, the treatment group healed ~25% more rapidly and with ~50% enhancement in dermal remodeling compared with control. Further, we observed activation of proregenerative genes in monocyte and macrophage cell populations, which may enhance tissue regeneration, neovascularization and dermal recovery.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41587-022-01528-3

    View details for PubMedID 36424488

    View details for PubMedCentralID 5350204

  • Evanescent, episodic salmon-colored macules in a young woman. JAAD case reports Leeolou, M. C., Young, P. A., Dear, A. L., Narala, S., Saleem, A., Rieger, K. E., Bae, G. H. 2022; 29: 30-32

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jdcr.2022.08.022

    View details for PubMedID 36186409

  • Characterization of Mechanoresponsive Inflammatory Cells during Wound Healing Chen, K., Griffin, M., Henn, D., Bonham, C. A., Fischer, K., Padmanabhan, J., Trotsyuk, A. A., Sivaraj, D., Leeolou, M., Kussie, H. C., Huskins, S., Steele, S., Perrault, D., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A22
  • Disrupting mechanotransduction decreases fibrosis and contracture in split-thickness skin grafting. Science translational medicine Chen, K., Henn, D., Januszyk, M., Barrera, J. A., Noishiki, C., Bonham, C. A., Griffin, M., Tevlin, R., Carlomagno, T., Shannon, T., Fehlmann, T., Trotsyuk, A. A., Padmanabhan, J., Sivaraj, D., Perrault, D. P., Zamaleeva, A. I., Mays, C. J., Greco, A. H., Kwon, S. H., Leeolou, M. C., Huskins, S. L., Steele, S. R., Fischer, K. S., Kussie, H. C., Mittal, S., Mermin-Bunnell, A. M., Diaz Deleon, N. M., Lavin, C., Keller, A., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. 2022; 14 (645): eabj9152

    Abstract

    Burns and other traumatic injuries represent a substantial biomedical burden. The current standard of care for deep injuries is autologous split-thickness skin grafting (STSG), which frequently results in contractures, abnormal pigmentation, and loss of biomechanical function. Currently, there are no effective therapies that can prevent fibrosis and contracture after STSG. Here, we have developed a clinically relevant porcine model of STSG and comprehensively characterized porcine cell populations involved in healing with single-cell resolution. We identified an up-regulation of proinflammatory and mechanotransduction signaling pathways in standard STSGs. Blocking mechanotransduction with a small-molecule focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor promoted healing, reduced contracture, mitigated scar formation, restored collagen architecture, and ultimately improved graft biomechanical properties. Acute mechanotransduction blockade up-regulated myeloid CXCL10-mediated anti-inflammation with decreased CXCL14-mediated myeloid and fibroblast recruitment. At later time points, mechanical signaling shifted fibroblasts toward profibrotic differentiation fates, and disruption of mechanotransduction modulated mesenchymal fibroblast differentiation states to block those responses, instead driving fibroblasts toward proregenerative, adipogenic states similar to unwounded skin. We then confirmed these two diverging fibroblast transcriptional trajectories in human skin, human scar, and a three-dimensional organotypic model of human skin. Together, pharmacological blockade of mechanotransduction markedly improved large animal healing after STSG by promoting both early, anti-inflammatory and late, regenerative transcriptional programs, resulting in healed tissue similar to unwounded skin. FAK inhibition could therefore supplement the current standard of care for traumatic and burn injuries.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj9152

    View details for PubMedID 35584231

  • Pullulan-Collagen Hydrogel Wound Dressing Promotes Dermal Remodeling and Wound Healing Compared to Commercially Available Collagen Dressings. Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society Chen, K., Sivaraj, D., Davitt, M., Leeolou, M. C., Henn, D., Steele, S. R., Huskins, S. L., Trotsyuk, A. A., Kussie, H. C., Greco, A., Padmanabhan, J., Perrault, D. P., Zamaleeva, A. I., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. 2022

    Abstract

    Biological scaffolds such as hydrogels provide an ideal, physio-mimetic of native ECM that can improve wound healing outcomes after cutaneous injury. While most studies have focused on the benefits of hydrogels in accelerating wound healing, there is minimal data directly comparing different hydrogel material compositions. In this study, we utilized a splinted excisional wound model that recapitulates human-like wound healing in mice and treated wounds with three different collagen hydrogel dressings. We assessed the feasibility of applying each dressing and performed histologic and histopathologic analysis on the explanted scar tissues to assess variations in collagen architecture and alignment, as well as tissue response. Our data indicate that the material properties of hydrogel dressings can significantly influence healing time, cellular response, and resulting architecture of healed scars. Specifically, our pullulan-collagen hydrogel dressing accelerated wound closure and promoted healed tissue with less dense, more randomly aligned, and shorter collagen fibers. Further understanding of how hydrogel properties affect the healing and resulting scar architecture of wounds may lead to novel insights and further optimization of the material properties of wound dressings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/wrr.13012

    View details for PubMedID 35384131

  • Galvanotactic Smart Bandage for Chronic Wound Management and Tissue Regeneration Trotsyuk, A. A., Jiang, Y., Niu, S., Henn, D., Chen, K., Larson, M., Beard, E., Saberi, A., Sivaraj, D., Mermin-Bunnell, A., Mittal, S., Jing, S., Kwon, S., Bonham, C., Padmanabhan, J., Perrault, D., Leeolou, M. C., Januszyk, M., Bao, Z., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A36
  • Mechanical Signaling Mediated by IQGAP1 Promotes Pathologic Foreign Body Response Sivaraj, D., Padmanabhan, J., Chen, K., Henn, D., Kussie, H. C., Leeolou, M. C., Trotsyuk, A. A., Fischer, K., Perrault, D., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A21
  • Application of No Releasing Gel Increases Fibronectin, TGF-beta 1, and Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice Noishiki, C., Sivaraj, D., Kosaric, N., Leeolou, M. C., Kussie, H. C., Kiwanuka, H., Henn, D., Fischer, K., Trotsyuk, A. A., Padmanabhan, J., Perrault, D., Murad, F., Chen, K., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A8
  • Determining How Early Disruption Of Mechanotransduction Affects Acute Wound Healing Kussie, H. C., Sivaraj, D., Leeolou, M. C., Huskins, S. L., Steele, S., Henn, D., Trotsyuk, A. A., Gurtner, G. C., Chen, K. WILEY. 2022: A22
  • Pullulan-Collagen Hydrogel Wound Dressing Promotes Dermal Remodeling and Healing in an Excisional Wound Model Leeolou, M. C., Sivaraj, D., Davitt, M., Henn, D., Steele, S., Huskins, S. L., Trotsyuk, A. A., Kussie, H. C., Greco, A., Perrault, D., Padmanabhan, J., Longaker, M. T., Chen, K., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A24
  • Characterization of Mechanoresponsive Inflammatory Cells during Wound Healing Chen, K., Griffin, M., Henn, D., Bonham, C. A., Fischer, K., Padmanabhan, J., Trotsyuk, A. A., Sivaraj, D., Leeolou, M. C., Kussie, H. C., Huskins, S. L., Steele, S., Perrault, D., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A5
  • Interactions Of Fibroblasts Versus Macrophages In An In Vitro Model Of Scar Formation And Wound Healing Huskins, S. L., Griffin, M., Steele, S., Thomas, B., Kussie, H. C., Sivaraj, D., Leeolou, M. C., Trotsyuk, A. A., Padmanabhan, J., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C., Chen, K. WILEY. 2022: A53-A54
  • Characterization of Mechanoresponsive Inflammatory Cells during Wound Healing Chen, K., Griffin, M., Henn, D., Bonham, C. A., Fischer, K., Padmanabhan, J., Trotsyuk, A. A., Sivaraj, D., Leeolou, M. C., Kussie, H. C., Huskins, S. L., Steele, S., Perrault, D., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. WILEY. 2022: A31-A32
  • Reinforced Biologic Mesh Reduces Postoperative Complications Compared to Biologic Mesh after Ventral Hernia Repair. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open Sivaraj, D., Henn, D., Fischer, K. S., Kim, T. S., Black, C. K., Lin, J. Q., Barrera, J. A., Leeolou, M. C., Makarewicz, N. S., Chen, K., Perrault, D. P., Gurtner, G. C., Lee, G. K., Nazerali, R. 2022; 10 (2): e4083

    Abstract

    The use of biologic mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall in ventral hernia repair has been proposed as a viable alternative to synthetic mesh, particularly for high-risk patients and in contaminated settings. However, a comparison of clinical outcomes between the currently available biologic mesh types has yet to be performed.We performed a retrospective analysis of 141 patients who had undergone ventral hernia repair with biologic mesh, including noncross-linked porcine ADM (NC-PADM) (n = 51), cross-linked porcine ADM (C-PADM) (n = 17), reinforced biologic ovine rumen (RBOR) (n = 36), and bovine ADM (BADM) (n = 37) at the Stanford University Medical Center between 2002 and 2020. Postoperative donor site complications and rates of hernia recurrence were compared between patients with different biologic mesh types.Abdominal complications occurred in 47.1% of patients with NC-PADM, 52.9% of patients with C-PADM, 16.7% of patients with RBOR, and 43.2% of patients with BADM (P = 0.015). Relative risk for overall complications was higher in patients who had received NC-PADM (RR = 2.64, P = 0.0182), C-PADM (RR = 3.19, P = 0.0127), and BADM (RR = 2.11, P = 0.0773) compared with those who had received RBOR. Furthermore, relative risk for hernia recurrence was also higher in all other mesh types compared with RBOR.Our data indicate that RBOR decreases abdominal complications and recurrence rates after ventral hernia repair compared with NC-PADM, C-PADM, and BADM.

    View details for DOI 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004083

    View details for PubMedID 35141102

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8820910

  • Recurrent bilateral cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma arising within pretibial hypertrophic lichen planus with metastasis while on cemiplimab Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Case Reports Leeolou, M., Burgren, N., Lee, C., Momeni, A., Pinto, H., Johannet, P., Nord, K., Chang, A. S. 2022
  • IQGAP1-mediated mechanical signaling promotes the foreign body response to biomedical implants. FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Sivaraj, D., Padmanabhan, J., Chen, K., Henn, D., Noishiki, C., Trotsyuk, A. A., Kussie, H. C., Leeolou, M. C., Magbual, N. J., Andrikopoulos, S., Perrault, D. P., Barrera, J. A., Januszyk, M., Gurtner, G. C. 2022; 36 (2): e22007

    Abstract

    The aim of this study was to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms that mediate pathologic foreign body response (FBR) to biomedical implants. The longevity of biomedical implants is limited by the FBR, which leads to implant failure and patient morbidity. Since the specific molecular mechanisms underlying fibrotic responses to biomedical implantsĀ have yet to be fully described, there are currently no targeted approaches to reduce pathologic FBR. We utilized proteomics analysis of human FBR samples to identify potential molecular targets for therapeutic inhibition of FBR. We then employed a murine model of FBR to further evaluate the role of this potential target. We performed histological and immunohistochemical analysis on the murine FBR capsule tissue, as well as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on cells isolated from the capsules. We identified IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) as the most promising of several targets, serving as a central molecular mediator in human and murine FBR compared to control subcutaneous tissue. IQGAP1-deficient mice displayed a significantly reduced FBR compared to wild-type mice as evidenced by lower levels of collagen deposition and maturity. Our scRNA-seq analysis revealed that decreasing IQGAP1 resulted in diminished transcription of mechanotransduction, inflammation, and fibrosis-related genes, which was confirmed on the protein level with immunofluorescent staining. The deficiency of IQGAP1 significantly attenuates FBR by deactivating downstream mechanotransduction signaling, inflammation, and fibrotic pathways. IQGAP1 may be a promising target for rational therapeutic design to mitigate pathologic FBR around biomedical implants.

    View details for DOI 10.1096/fj.202101354

    View details for PubMedID 35051300

  • Inhibiting Fibroblast Mechanotransduction Modulates Severity of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Advances in wound care Trotsyuk, A. A., Chen, K., Kwon, S. H., Ma, K. C., Henn, D., Mermin-Bunnell, A. M., Mittal, S., Padmanabhan, J., Larson, M. R., Steele, S. R., Sivaraj, D., Bonham, C. A., Noishiki, C., Rodrigues, M., Jiang, Y., Jing, S., Niu, S., Chattopadhyay, A., Perrault, D. P., Leeolou, M. C., Fischer, K., Gurusankar, G., Choi Kussie, H., Wan, D. C., Januszyk, M., Longaker, M. T., Gurtner, G. C. 2021

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease that affects 63 in every 100,000 Americans. Its etiology remains unknown, although inflammatory pathways appear to be important. Given the dynamic environment of the lung, we examined the significance of mechanotransduction on both inflammatory and fibrotic signaling during IPF.INNOVATION: Mechanotransduction pathways have not been thoroughly examined in the context of lung disease and pharmacologic approaches for IPF do not currently target these pathways. The interplay between mechanical strain and inflammation in pulmonary fibrosis remain incompletely understood.APPROACH: In this study, we used conditional KO mice to block mechanotransduction by knocking out FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) expression in fibroblasts, followed by induction of pulmonary fibrosis using bleomycin. We examined both normal human and human IPF fibroblasts and used immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western Blot to evaluate the effects of FAK inhibition (FAKI) on modulating fibrotic and inflammatory genes.RESULTS: Our data indicate that deletion of FAK in mice reduces expression of fibrotic and inflammatory genes in lungs. Similarly, mechanical straining in normal human lung fibroblasts activates inflammatory and fibrotic pathways. FAK inhibition decreases these signals but has less effect on IPF fibroblasts as compared to normal human fibroblasts.CONCLUSION: Administering FAKI at early stages of fibrosis may attenuate the FAK-mediated fibrotic response pathway in IPF, potentially mediating disease progression.

    View details for DOI 10.1089/wound.2021.0077

    View details for PubMedID 34544267

  • First reported case of Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica infection in California JAAD Case Reports Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Case Reports Leelou, M. C., Perrault, D. P., Siravaj, D., Chang, A. S., Chen, K., Trotsyuk, A., Padmanabhan, J., Gurtner, G. C. 2021