Diabetic foot represents a complex cascade of pathologic processes driven by hyperglycemia and involving multiple systems. Developing truly effective diabetic foot treatment strategies requires a fundamental understanding of their intricate pathologic mechanisms. As a preclinical CRO specializing in diabetes, Ace Therapeutics provides global clients with comprehensive diabetic foot pathology research services. Leveraging advanced technology platforms including multi-omics, high-resolution imaging, and precision animal models, we deliver scientific support for target discovery, biomarker development, and therapeutic innovation in diabetic foot research.

Overview of the Pathological Mechanisms of Diabetic Foot

The development of diabetic foot results from the synergistic interaction of multiple factors and pathways. The core mechanisms can be summarized as follows:

• Neuropathy: Hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage (sensory, motor, autonomic nerves), leading to sensory loss, foot deformities, and impaired local blood circulation regulation, thereby increasing the risk of wound formation and impaired healing.
• Vascular lesions: Hyperglycemia induces vascular endothelial damage, atherosclerosis, and microcirculatory dysfunction, leading to ischemia and hypoxia in foot tissues. This impairs the supply of nutrients and oxygen required for wound repair.
• Imbalance in the wound microenvironment: Excessive activation of oxidative stress and persistent dysregulation of the inflammatory response (abnormal activation of the NF-κB pathway, imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors) inhibit fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and the epithelialization process.
• Infection and tissue repair defects: Impaired skin barrier function increases susceptibility to infections caused by common diabetic foot pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus species.

Fig. 1 Pathological pathways in the progression of diabetic foot. (Kim, J., 2023)

Our Diabetic Foot Pathological Research Service

We provide comprehensive services spanning target discovery, mechanism validation, and model application to address our clients' core needs in researching the pathological mechanisms of diabetic foot.

Key Pathway Analysis Service

We focus on key pathways such as neuropathy, vascular endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory dysregulation (NF-κB, NLRP3), oxidative stress (Nrf2/HO-1), and wound healing (VEGF, TGF-β, MMPs) to elucidate their regulatory roles in diabetic foot development and progression.

Wound Microenvironment Analysis Service

We quantify inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), growth factors, metabolites, and microbial community composition in wound tissues to investigate mechanisms of cellular crosstalk and microenvironment dysregulation.

Cell or Animal Model Validation Services

Using in vitro cell models (high-glucose-stimulated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and neurons) and in vivo animal models (STZ-induced diabetic wound models, db/db mouse wound models) to validate the function and therapeutic potential of candidate targets.

Our Advanced Technology Platform

We integrate cutting-edge technologies across multiple dimensions to provide reliable tools for studying the pathological mechanisms of diabetic foot.

Ace Therapeutics is committed to providing efficient and customized preclinical research services for diabetic foot ulcer pathology, helping clients discover innovative therapeutic targets. Contact us today to obtain tailored solutions and quotations, accelerating your diabetic foot ulcer research and translation process.

References

1. Kim, J. The pathophysiology of diabetic foot: a narrative review. Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science. 40.4 (2023): 328-334.
2. Dawi, John, et al. Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Pathophysiology, Immune Dysregulation, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies. Biomedicines 13.5 (2025): 1076.

• Diabetic Foot Ulcer Modeling Service
• Diabetic Foot Drug Development Service
• Biomarker and Diagnostic Assay Development Services for Diabetic Foot Ulcers

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