Why mouth wounds heal slowly in people with diabetes
Epithelial stem cell dysfunction in diabetic oral ulcer
['FUNDING_R03'] · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · NIH-11146431
This project looks at how diabetes changes the stem cells that repair the mouth lining to find ways to help adults with diabetes heal oral wounds faster.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R03'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11146431 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers will study the special stem cells that keep the mouth lining healthy and see how diabetes changes their number, location, and injury response. They will use diabetic mice and lab-grown (3‑D) oral tissue models to watch how these cells behave after injury and to measure proteins that keep the barrier intact. The team will pay special attention to Wnt‑responsive stem cells in the basal layer and factors in the cell environment that diabetes may alter. Findings are meant to point toward targets that could be turned into treatments to improve oral wound healing in people with diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 (adult‑onset) diabetes, especially those who have slow‑healing mouth ulcers or who need oral surgery, would be the most relevant group for future clinical follow‑up based on this work.
Not a fit: People without diabetes, children, or those whose oral problems come from non‑diabetic causes are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to speed healing of mouth wounds and reduce complications after dental surgery in people with diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab and animal studies have shown diabetes impairs epithelial repair and identified Wnt‑responsive oral stem cells, but translating those findings into proven human treatments remains largely untested.
Where this research is happening
INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES
- INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YUAN, XUE — INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- Study coordinator: YUAN, XUE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus