6.1 Human Skin on the Molecular Scale

౪

115

Figure 6.6: The blood-clotting cascade that creates the blood clot, the first step in healing a wound

(adapted from [15]).

Table 6.2: The different pathways of inflammation, the next step in the healing process of skin after the

bleeding is stopped [15].

Mediators

Examples

Vasoactive Agents

Histamines, serotonin, endothelin, thromboxane α2

Plasma Proteases

Bradykinin, complement system C3a, C5a, C3b, C5b-C9, fibrin degradation

products, tissue plasminogen activator

Leukotrienes

Leukotriene B4

Lysosomal Proteases

Collagenase, elastase

Oxygen-Derived Free Radicals

H2O2, superoxide anion

Platelet Activating Factors

Cell membrane lipids

Cytokines

Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor

Growth Factors

Platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor, epithelial

growth factor