DcR3 reprograms macrophage plasticity to promote wound healing and hair regeneration.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Macrophages are key regulators of tissue repair, with M2-polarized subsets promoting anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative functions. Decoy Receptor 3 (DcR3), a soluble TNF receptor superfamily member, modulates macrophage polarization, but its role in cutaneous regeneration remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the immunomodulatory role of DcR3 in macrophage polarization and evaluate its therapeutic potential in skin wound repair and hair follicle regeneration. METHODS: We employed a combination of in vitro macrophage polarization assays with in vivo models, including delayed wound healing and mechanical stretch-induced hair regeneration, to evaluate DcR3-mediated immunoregulation. Transgenic mice with macrophage-specific DcR3 overexpression were employed to investigate the physiological function of endogenous DcR3. RESULTS: DcR3 accelerated wound closure and dampened pro-inflammatory gene expression in LPS-treated wounds. While physiological hair cycling remained unchanged in DcR3-transgenic mice, mechanical stimulation elicited enhanced anagen induction. In vitro, DcR3 attenuated M1 polarization while amplifying IL-4-induced M2 gene expression, thereby promoting macrophage plasticity. Adoptive transfer of DcR3-reprogrammed macrophages improved both wound healing and hair regrowth by reshaping the wound microenvironment, reducing iNOS2⁺ M1-like and increasing CD206⁺ M2-like macrophage, while enriching the transitional iNOS2⁺CD206⁺ macrophage population. CONCLUSION: DcR3 facilitates macrophage reprogramming toward reparative phenotypes and enhances regenerative responses in skin and hair follicles, establishing DcR3 as a promising immunoregulatory target for chronic wound management and alopecia treatment.