Fig. 7.

Schematic illustration of the glucose-induced overactive Dll4–Notch1 loop that contributes to impaired wound healing in diabetes. High glucose levels induce a positive Dll4–Notch1 feedback loop. In this loop, Notch1 signaling enhances the expression of the ligand Dll4, which in turn further activates Notch1. This positive Dll4–Notch1 feedback loop is induced and sustained by high glucose levels, thereby resulting in an amplification of the Notch1 activity that contributes to impaired wound healing in diabetes.