Fibroblast Dysfunction and Immune Dysregulation Impair Palatal Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate how diabetes mellitus affects palatal wound healing, focusing on inflammatory responses, gene expression dynamics, and fibroblast function. METHODS: A standardized full-thickness palatal wound model was established in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Wound healing progression was assessed via gross observation, histological analysis, and immunohistochemistry (CD3, IBA1) at postoperative days (PID) 0, 3, 7, and 14. Wound-edge tissues were collected at PID 0, 3, and 7 for RNA sequencing. The resulting transcriptomic data were analysed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Primary palatal fibroblasts were isolated from both groups and subjected to in vitro assays assessing proliferation, migration, and ATP production. RESULTS: Diabetic rats exhibited delayed wound closure, defective re-epithelialization, and diminished collagen matrix formation. Immunohistochemistry revealed a biphasic immune response in diabetic wounds, characterized by reduced CD3⁺ and IBA1⁺ cell infiltration at PID 3 and prolonged inflammation at PID 7 and 14. Transcriptomic profiling indicated pre-injury immune activation in diabetic tissues, with elevated inflammatory gene expression at PID 0. Post-injury, diabetes exacerbated tissue repair disruptions, marked by persistent immune activation and suppression of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization and metabolic regulation. GSEA revealed marked alterations in oxidative phosphorylation during diabetic wound healing, reflecting mitochondrial dysregulation. WGCNA identified distinct co-expression modules associated with heightened inflammation, impaired ECM remodelling, and perturbed mitochondrial metabolism. Palatal fibroblasts derived from diabetic rats exhibited reduced proliferation, migration, and ATP production, indicating intrinsic functional impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes disrupts the temporal coordination of wound healing, leading to immune dysregulation, metabolic suppression, and fibroblast dysfunction - all of which underpin impaired palatal mucosal repair. These findings provide mechanistic insights and may inform the development of targeted therapies for diabetic wound care.