Research progress on the role of peripheral nerves in wound healing.

Skin wound repair is critically regulated by peripheral nerves, whose injury or dysfunction represents a key factor impairing the healing of pathological wounds such as diabetic ulcers and deep burns. The mechanisms through which peripheral nerves participate in cutaneous wound healing primarily involve the modulation of immune responses, the regulation of stem cell niches, and the promotion of angiogenesis. Sensory neurons initiate and mediate essential local immune responses, contribute to the epidermal stem cell microenvironment, and support regenerative potential. Sympathetic nerves bidirectionally regulate immune homeostasis through the release of various neuromodulators and finely control the activation of hair follicle stem cells and the homeostasis of melanocyte stem cells. Schwann cells also play pivotal roles in immune modulation, balancing repair processes and mitigating scar formation. During revascularization, sensory and autonomic nerve terminals release neurotransmitters that precisely regulate vasomotor activity and angiogenesis, while Schwann cells facilitate the reconstruction of functional vascular networks through potent paracrine signaling. This review systematically summarizes the crucial roles of peripheral nerves in skin wound repair, with emphasis on their regulatory mechanisms in immune responses, stem cell activation and homeostasis, and vascular dynamics, thereby providing insights for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting neuroregulation.