Fig. 2.

MicroRNAs as regulators of cutaneous wound healing and scar formation. MicroRNAs are key epigenetic regulators of wound healing since they can target several genes simultaneously. Dysregulation of the microRNA network in either overexpression of pro-fibrotic microRNAs, such as microRNA-155, microRNA-132, microRNA-31, microRNA-21, microRNA-181, and microRNA-145, or downregulation of anti-fibrotic microRNAs, including microRNA-16, microRNA-203, microRNA-519d, microRNA-495, microRNA-138, microRNA-200b, microRNA-137, and microRNA-29, propels the wounds to heal aberrantly, resulting in excessive cutaneous scarring. Hence, modulating wound repair through microRNAs regulation may be an interesting approach in scar management. Arrows indicate “induction,” and blunt-ended lines indicate “inhibition.”