Study reveals how AXL enzyme enhances healing powers of the mouth

In a preclinical study published on July 1, 2025, by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California-San Francisco, a discovery regarding the oral mucosa's healing abilities was made. The study, conducted on mice, suggests that the Gas6/AXL protein/enzyme signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the mouth's capacity to heal rapidly and without scarring, regardless of exposure to various microbes, abrasions, and movement. The research was led by Dr. Ophir Klein, who found that inhibiting the AXL enzyme worsened the healing of oral mucosa wounds, causing them to behave more like typical skin wounds. Conversely, stimulating AXL in facial skin wounds resulted in more efficient healing with less scarring. This promising finding offers potential avenues for new therapies that could enhance skin wound healing by reducing scarring, especially for burn victims or individuals with chronic oral health issues. The study also proposed further exploration into how AXL signaling affects scarring and regeneration at the molecular level across different tissues and types of injuries. The study aligns with other recent findings from research conducted by the University of Arizona, which highlighted the significance of the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in wound healing. The combined insights from these studies could lead to FDA-approved treatments aimed at improving healing processes and minimizing scars in severe injuries. Increased understanding of the oral mucosa's unique regenerative properties is crucial, as there are currently no FDA-approved treatments to significantly reduce scarring from such injuries, prompting interest and urgency for future research in this field.