A man sick in bed healing.

What Cells Take Part in the Healing Process?

By Gladiator Therapeutics

November 9, 2023

Cells keep the body going. However, only some of them ensure that all of our bodily processes are functioning as they should. Other cells repair the body after it suffers an injury rather than maintain a regular bodily function. Without these healing cells, there is no healing process. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of cells that participate in the healing process and their specific roles.

Types of Healing Cells

#1. Platelets

Platelets are a type of blood cell that plays a crucial role in blood clotting. When an injury occurs, platelets rush to the injury site to form clots that stop the bleeding. These clots act like a temporary sealant for the damaged area, preventing us from bleeding out.

#2. White Blood Cells

White blood cells are essential components of our immune system. They protect us from bacteria and viruses that can cause an injury to become infected. While they don’t play a part in the actual healing, they do protect the cells and the body during the healing process from infection.

#3. Fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are connective tissue cells. They produce collagen and other essential proteins for healing. These cells form scar tissue to strengthen and support the injured area.  

#4. Keratinocytes

Keratinocytes are skin cells that play a vital role in wound healing. They migrate to the site of injury and then multiply to form new layers of skin. This works like a sort of cleanup crew after the hardest parts of the healing process are over. They ultimately close the wound like a surgeon would stitch up a surgery wound.

#5. Epithelial Cells

Epithelial cells line the surfaces and cavities of our body. During the healing process, these cells work to cover and protect the injured area until the platelets and fibroblasts finish their job. Then the epithelial cells build a foundation for keratinocytes to build new skin.

The Healing Process

The healing process can be broken down into three phases: inflammation, proliferation, and maturation.

The Inflammation Phase

The first phase of healing is inflammation. This occurs immediately after an injury. During this phase, damaged blood vessels leak blood and fluids into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling and redness. The release of platelets also triggers the formation of blood clots to stop the bleeding.

Inflammation is a crucial step in the healing process. This is when cells remove debris and bacteria from the wound site so other cells can prepare to start repairing your tissue.

Proliferation Phase

The second phase of healing is proliferation. This is when new cells begin to grow and replace damaged ones. Fibroblasts play a significant role in this phase. They produce the collagen proteins we mentioned before. 

Fibroblasts use collagen to form the framework for new tissue growth. Then, as keratinocytes multiply to form a layer of skin over the wound site, the epithelial cells provide protection. 

Maturation Phase

The final phase of healing is maturation. This is when newly formed tissue will gradually gain strength and flexibility. During this phase, collagen fibers align themselves in a specific pattern to provide maximum strength to the wound site. The excess scar tissue may also start to shrink and fade during this phase.

Help Your Cells and Improve Your Body’s Healing Process With Products From Gladiator Therapeutics.

With our patented Far Infrared technology, we have made non-invasive devices that will boost your body’s ability to produce the healing cells you need to recover from an injury, or wounds leftover from surgery. 

To learn if your ability to heal from an injury or condition can be improved by one of our products, contact us today.