**1. Introduction**

The actin cytoskeleton is made up of a complex network of microtubules, actin filaments, intermediate filaments and stress fibres, providing a cellular engine that drives motility, adhesion and contraction downstream of complex signalling pathways. The actin cytoskeleton

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

is also involved in modulating cell signalling, growth, differentiation and gene expression, while components of the actin cytoskeleton further work in synergy to provide stronger cell stability during stress [1, 2].

Cutaneous wound repair is a dynamic process triggered in response to tissue injury, which aims to restore the skin barrier function, and involves a sequence of events including acute inflammation, reepithelialisation, collagen deposition and contraction and remodelling [3]. Common to all tissue repair processes is the migration of cells into the wound space including fibroblasts, epithelial cells and endothelial cells. It is the active assembly and disassembly of the filamentous actin and reorganisation of its networks that underpins the important cell processes, which occur during wound healing.

Changes in the distribution of actin-associated proteins during epidermal wound healing in vivo were first reported in 1992 [4]. Filamentous actin was found in all the living epidermal layers before, after and during wound healing while different actin-associated proteins, namely talin, filamin and gelsolin, showed a reduced expression at the leading edge of migrating epidermis, which returned to normal levels once the epidermis has reformed [4].

The precise orchestration of actin polymers into filaments and their interactions with various proteins regulating actin remodelling, stability, branching and bundling is what underpins cellular migration and outcomes of wound healing. Central to the ability of fibroblasts and keratinocytes to move into the wounded area is a dynamic and responsive actin cytoskeleton and the molecules that regulate actin filament dynamics and change the rate of cell migration can also alter the rate of wound healing [5]. Understanding the role of the actin cytoskeleton in cellular functions vital for tissue repair and regeneration and how different regulators of the actin cytoskeleton control this intricate balance between actin polymerisation and disassembly will be critical for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. New therapies that can regulate the actin cytoskeleton could lead to improved wound healing outcomes. Here, we will focus on describing the role of different actin cytoskeleton regulators and how they are able to modulate the cytoskeleton and influence different stages of wound healing.
