The healing of acute wounds is vital to humans and is a well-orchestrated process that involves systemic and local factors. However, there is a lack of effective and safe clinical therapies. The collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) protein is a type of exocrine protein that has been recently reported to contribute to tissue repair. Our aim is to validate the promoting effects of CTHRC1 on the healing of acute wounds and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. Therefore, we first established acute wound healing mouse models and confirmed that CTHRC1 accelerates the healing process of acute wounds. Then, we characterized wound macrophages using a polyvinylalcohol (PVA) sponge model and used Western blotting to investigate the molecular mechanism. We found that CTHRC1 increased the M2 macrophage population and the TGF-β expression level as a result of the activation of the TGF-β and Notch pathways, which eventually contributed to the promotion of wound healing. Inhibition of the Notch pathway showed attenuated M2 macrophage recruitment, and it decreased the TGF-β expression level. These results substantiate our hypothesis that CTHRC1 promotes wound healing by recruiting M2 macrophages and regulating the TGF-β and Notch pathways.

Background: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is a rare tumor type. The diagnosis of this tumor type is more frequently made only after microscopy evaluation. Breast implant-associated SCC is rarer with medical literature review indicating only 18 cases reported in female individuals.Case presentation: We reported an unusual case that a man found a 3-cm sized mass on his left breast at first, who had a implant surgery 18 years previously to reconstruct the deformed left breast, as related to the Poland's syndrome. More than 1 year after the mass was detected, the size of the mass gradually increased to 20 cm with swelling and severe pain, and the patient was admitted to our hospital. The patient underwent surgical excision of the tumor, followed by removal of the implant, complete capsulectomy, and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The microscopy evaluation demonstrated the tumor as moderately and poorly differentiated invasive SCC. Follow-up at 12 months after showed multiple metastases, including the skin of the chest, axillary lymph nodes and pleura.Conclusion: Breast implant-associated SCC can occur in male patients. Therefore, it should be considered when the clinical manifestation or histopathological appearance is not typical of other breast neoplasms. Malignant transformation of normal epithelial cells takes about 18 years, after which rapid evolution follows leading to fast growth of the tumor.