Fig. 3.

Process flow representation of wound healing. Usually the process is unidirectional resulting in minimal scarring (Normal). However, in the Absence of ‘stop’ signals (e.g., deficit of CXCR3 signaling) the fibroplasia results in an immature matrix which in turns recruits more inflammatory cells that stimulate the stromal cells to produce more regenerative matrix. This results in a feed-forward loop in which the regenerative matrix is central to driving further scarring. This process slows down when the myofibroblasts contract the matrix, with the fibrosis leading to the death of the excess cells and leaving a fibrotic, sclerotic dermis