Unveiling the Therapeutic Role of 3D-Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Foot Ulcers through Transcriptomic Integration and Fibroblast Modulation

Abstract

Background Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus and remain difficult to manage due to chronic inflammation, defective angiogenesis, delayed tissue repair, which increase the risk of recurrence and limb amputation. Standard treatments, such as debridement, infection management, pressure off-loading and revascularization, are commonly used, however; these interventions often inadequate to fully restore effective wound repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted remarkable interest due to their potential regenerative ability and paracrine activity. Nevertheless, the molecular interaction between MSCs and fibroblasts under hyperglycemic conditions has not been fully elucidated. Objective This study aimed to examine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with DFUs and MSC-related regenerative mechanisms using transcriptomic datasets (such as GSE143735, GSE199939, and GSE217709). Methods and results Differentially expressed genes and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were performed to determine central regulatory genes. Four key genes including CXCL1, MMP9, THBS1, and POSTN were recognized as hub genes related to inflammatory response, extracellular matrix reorganization, and angiogenesis. For experimental validation, L929 murine fibroblasts were exposed to high-glucose conditions to set-up an in vitro diabetic model and subsequently treated with MSCs with/without a 3D platform. Hyperglycemic conditions significantly reduced fibroblast proliferation and migration downregulated the expression of the identified hub genes and enhanced apoptotic activity. MSC treatment partially increased cellular function, while MSCs embedded into 3D culture enhanced a more pronounced recovery in both gene expression patterns and functional assays. Conclusions These findings suggest that high glucose impair fibroblast functions for wound repair, while 3D-cultured MSCs enhance regenerative responses and may represent a promising strategy for diabetic wound healing.