Cutaneous endothelial cells and their roles in wound healing

Endothelial cells (ECs) form the inner monolayer of blood and lymphatic vessels and play an essential role in skin homeostasis and wound healing. Upon injury, ECs rapidly engage in the healing response. ECs promote wound healing by forming new blood vessels through angiogenesis to supply oxygen, nutrients, and signals needed for tissue repair. Diseases like diabetes can cause endothelial dysfunction, leading to defective neovascularization and delayed wound closure. This review focuses on intrinsic roles of endothelial cells in each phase of skin wound healing, extending beyond their roles in vascularization, and discusses therapeutic strategies that target those functions to improve healing outcomes. Recognizing ECs as dynamic regulators of wound repair, rather than merely structural components of blood vessels, could open new therapeutic avenues for regenerative skin therapies.