Vanillic acid promotes keratinocyte migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis

Wound healing is a complex, multi-phase process involving the coordinated interaction of various cells and molecules. This study evaluates the effects of vanillic acid (VA) on wound healing using HaCaT cells. The results demonstrate that VA treatment increases the levels of phosphorylated AMPK protein, thereby activating the AMPK pathway. This activation leads to an upregulation of PNCA expression and enhances the proliferation of HaCaT cells. Additionally, VA treatment reduces the expression of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 while increasing Bcl2 expression, which inhibits apoptosis in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, VA treatment upregulates the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, promoting HaCaT cell migration. VA also induces the secretion of FGF, VEGF, and PDGF, which enhances tube formation in HUVECs. In conclusion, VA may have potential therapeutic benefits in wound healing by promoting keratinocyte proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis.