Objective To explore the expression characteristics of chaperone interacting protein (CHIP) in normal, scar and chronic ulcer tissues and its relationship with wound healing. Methods Twenty biopsies including scar tissues(n=8), chronic ulcer tissues(n=4) and normal tissues(n=8)were used in this study. The immunohistochemical staining (power visionTMtwo-step histostaining reagent) was used to explore the amount and expression characteristics of such protein.Results The positive expression of CHIP was observed in fibroblasts, endothelial cells and epidermal cells in dermis and epidermis. It was not seen ininflammatory cells. The expression amount of CHIP in scar tissues, chronic ulcer tissues and normal tissues was 89%, 83% and 17% respectively. Conclusion Although the function of CHIP is not fully understood at present, the fact that this protein is expressed only at the mitogenic cells indicates that it may be involved in mitogenic regulation during wound healing.
To investigate the inhibitory effect of Col I A1 antisense ol igodeoxyneucleotide (ASODN) transfection mediated by cationic l iposome on Col I A1 expression in human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Methods Scar tissue was obtained from volunteer donor. Human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured by tissue block method. The cells at passage 4 were seeded in a 6 well cell culture plate at 32.25 × 104 cells/well, and then divided into 4 groups: group A, l iposomeand Col I A1 ASODN; group B, Col I A1 ASODN; group C, l iposome; group D, blank control. At 8 hours, 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after transfection, total RNA of the cells were extracted, the expression level of Col I A1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, the Col I A1 protein in ECM was extracted by pepsin-digestion method, its concentration was detected by ELISA method. Results Agarose gel electrophoresis detection of ampl ified products showed clear bands without occurrence of indistinct band, obvious primer dimmer and tailing phenomenon. Relative expression level of Col I A1 mRNA: at 8 hours after transfection, group A was less than groups B, C and D (P lt; 0.05), and groups B and C were less than group D (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was evident between group B and group C (Pgt; 0.05); at 1 day after transfection, groups A and B were less than groups C and D (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between group A and group B, and between group C and group D (P gt; 0.05 ); at 2 days after transfection, there were significant differences among four groups (P lt; 0.05); at 3 and 4 days after transfection, group A was less than groups B, C and D (P lt; 0.05), group B was less than groups C and D (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was evident between group C and group D (P gt; 0.05). Concentration of Col I protein: at 8 hours after transfection, group A was less than groups B, C and D (P lt; 0.05), groups B and C were less than group D (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was evident between group B and group C (P gt; 0.05); at 1 day after transfection, significant differences were evident among four groups (P lt; 0.05); at 2, 3 and 4 days after tranfection, groups A and B were less than groups C and D (P lt; 0.05), and no significant difference was evident between group A and group B (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Col I A1 ASODN can inhibit mRNA and protein expression level of Col I A1. Cationic l iposome, as the carrier, can enhance the inhibition by facil itating the entry of ASODN into cells and introducing ASODN into cell nucleus.
Objective To investigate the effects of asiaticoside onthe proliferation and the Smad signal pathway of the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.Methods The hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured with tissue culture method. The expressions of Smad2 and Smad7 mRNA after asiaticoside treatment were determined by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction 48 hours later. Thecell cycle, the cell proliferation, the cell apoptosis and the expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7 with(experimental group) or without(control group) asiaticoside were detected with flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Results Asiaticoside inhibited the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts from phase S to phase M. The Smad7 content and the expression of Smad7 mRNA were (1.33±1.26)% and (50.80±22.40)% in experimental group, and (9.15±3.36)% and (32.18±17.84)% in control group; there were significant differences between two groups (P＜0.05). While the content and the mRNA expression of Smad2 had no significant difference between two groups. Conclusion Asiaticoside inhibits the scar formation through Smad signal pathway.
To determine the state of fibroblast during the process of development of hypertrophic scar (HS), 40 specimens of HS in different periods were collected. The expressions of prolifrating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ag-protein in nucleolar organizer regions (Ag NORs) as well as the content of total amino acids in the tissues were examined. The hypertrophic scar of 1st and 3rd month old, the expression of PCND and Ag NORs were the highest. In the 9th and 12th month old, althrough PCNA was nearly negative, but the expression of Ag NORs was low. The content of total amino acid was increased gradually as HS developed but the increase of amount of hydroxyproline was markedly slowed down in 9 month old HS. It was suggested that: (1) in the developing process of HS the proecess of overproliferation of fibroblasts was short and limitted in 1-3 months period in the process of wound lealing; (2) the synthesis of collagen was nearly stopped at 6 months, but that of other extracellular matrix such as fibronectin and proteoglycan might be continued to aggregate after 12 months.
Objective Col I A1 antisense oligodeoxyneucleotide (ASODN) has inhibitory effect on collagen synthesis in cultured human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. To investigate the effects of intralesional injection of Col I A1 ASODN on collagen synthesis in human hypertrophic scar transplanted nude mouse model. Methods The animal model of humanhypertrophic scar transplantation was established in the 60 BALB/c-nunu nude mice (specific pathogen free grade, weighing about 20 g, and aged 6-8 weeks) by transplanting hypertrophic scar without epidermis donated by the patients into the interscapular subcutaneous region on the back, with 1 piece each mouse. Fifty-eight succeed models mice were randomly divided into 3 groups in accordance with the contents of injection. In group A (n=20): 5 μL Col I A1 ASODN (3 mmol/L), 3 μL l iposome, and 92 μL Opti-MEM I; in group B (n=20): 3 μL l iposome and 97 μL Opti-MEM I; in group C (n=18): only 100 μL Opti-MEM I. The injection was every day in the first 2 weeks and once every other day thereafter. The scar specimens were harvested at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after injection, respectively and the hardness of the scar tissue was measured. The collagens type I and III in the scar were observed under polarized l ight microscope after sirius red staining. The ultrastructures of the scar tissues were also observed under transmission electronic microscope (TEM). Additionally, the Col I A1 mRNAs expression was determined by RT-PCR and the concentrations of Col I A1 protein were measured with ELISA method. Results Seventeen mice died after intralesional injection. Totally 40 specimens out of 41 mice were suitable for nucleic acid and protein study, including 14 in group A, 13 in group B, and 14 in group C. The hardness of scars showed no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) among 3 groups at 2 weeks after injection, whereas the hardness of scars in group A was significantly lower than those in groups B and C at 4 and 6 weeks (P lt; 0.05), and there was no significant difference between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). The collagen staining showed the increase of collagentype III in all groups, especially in group A with a regular arrangement of collagen type I fibers. TEM observation indicated that there was degeneration of fibroblasts and better organization of collagen fibers in group A, and the structures of collagen fibers in all groups became orderly with time. The relative expressions of Col I A1 mRNA and the concentrations of Col I A1 protein at 2 and 4 weeks after injection were significant difference among 3 groups (P lt; 0.05), and they were significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05) at 6 weeks after injection, but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Intralesional injection of Col I A1 ASODN in the nude mice model with human hypertrophic scars can inhibit the expression of Col I A1 mRNA and collagen type I, which enhances the mature and softening of the scar tissue. In this process, l iposome shows some assistant effect.
Objective To study the expression of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) and its correlation to collagen deposition in pathological scar tissues. Methods The tissues of normal skin(10 cases), hypertrophic scar(19 cases), and keloid(16 cases) were obtained. The expression ofHSP47 was detected by immunohistochemistry method. The collagen fiber content was detected by Sirius red staining and polarization microscopy method. Results Compared with normal skin tissues(Mean IOD 13 050.17±4 789.41), the expression of HSP47 in hypertrophic scar(Mean IOD -521 159.50±272994.13) and keloid tissues(Mean IOD 407 440.30±295 780.63) was significantly high(Plt;0.01). And there was a direct correlation between the expression of HSP47 and the total collagen fiber content（r＝0.386，Plt;0.05）. Conclusion The HSP47 is highly expressed in pathological scartissues and it may play an important role in the collagen deposition of pathological scar tissues.
Objective To observe the differences in protein contents of three transforming growth factorbeta(TGF-β) isoforms, β1, β2, β3 andtheir receptor(I) in hypertrophic scar and normal skin and to explore their influence on scar formation. Methods Eight cases of hypertrophic scar and their corresponding normal skin were detected to compare the expression and distribution of TGF-β1, β2, β3 and receptor(I) with immunohistochemistry and common pathological methods. Results Positive signals of TGF-β1, β2, and β3 could all be deteted in normal skin, mainly in the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix of epidermal cells; in addition, those factors could also be found in interfollicular keratinocytes and sweat gland cells; and the positive particles of TGF-β R(I) were mostly located in the membrane of keratinocytes and some fibroblasts. In hypertrophic scar, TGF-β1 and β3 could be detected in epidermal basal cells; TGFβ2 chiefly distributed in epidermal cells and some fibroblast cells; the protein contents of TGF-β1 and β3 were significantly lower than that of normal skin, while the change of TGF-β2 content was undistinguished when compared withnormalskin. In two kinds of tissues, the distribution and the content of TGF-β R(I) hadno obviously difference. ConclusionThe different expression and distribution of TGF-β1, β2 andβ3 between hypertrophic scar and normal skin may beassociated with the mechanism controlling scar formation, in which the role of the TGF-βR (I) and downstream signal factors need to be further studied.
Objective To investigate an effect of compressive stress on proliferation and apoptosis of human hyperplastic scar fibroblasts（HSFb） in vitro. Methods HSFb were obtained from a 20 year old female patient who developed a hyperplastic scar 3 months after operation for a largearea burn. HSFb were isolated, and were cultured in vitro with the simplified airpressure controlled cellculture instrument, and then they were randomly divided into the following 8 groups: the control group (no stress) and the 7 continuous compressive stress groups, which respectively underwent the 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 and 150mmHg(1mmHg=0.133 kPa) pressure treatment for 4d ays. The absorbance (A) of the cell and the inhibition ratio (IR) of the cell proliferation were determined by the MTT assay, the cell growth cycle was determined by the flow cytometer, and the cell apoptosis was observed by the AnnexinV binding with PI labeling method. Results In the 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 and 150mmHg pressure groups and the control group, the A values of the cells were 0.228±0.004, 0.226±0.003, 0.213±0.005, 0.180±0.005, 0.172±0.007, 0.165±0.004, 0.164±0.004 and 0.230±0.005, respectively; the IRs of the cell proliferation were 0.8%，2.0%，7.3%，21.7%，252%， 28.2% and 0, respectively;the ratios of the cells in G1 were 71.80％±0.44％, 72.32％±0.40％, 74.56％±1.01％, 82.82％±2.76％, 86.77％±2.06％, 88.23％±1.27％, 89.11％±1.74％ and 71.6％±0.49％,respectively; the cell apoptosis ratios were 4.22％±0.49％, 5.12％±0.74％ , 8.58％±0.79%, 19.28％±1.40%, 25.60％±1.21%, 3580％±2.39%, 36.18％±2.38% and 4.00％±0.36％, respectively. In the 5 and 10mmHggroups there were no statistically significant differences in all the above parameters when compared with those in the control group (P＞0.05); however, in the 15, 25,50, 100 and 150mmHg groups there were statistically significant differences in the above parameters when compared with those in the control group (P＜0.05). Furthermore, in the 10, 15, 25 and 50 mmHg groups, there were statistically significant differences in the Avalue of the cells and the ratios of the cells in G 1 when compared with each other (P＜0.01). By contrast, there were no statistically significant differences in the 50, 100 and 150 mmHg groups when compared witheach other (P＞0.05). In the 10, 15, 25, 50 and 100mmHg groups there werestatistically significant differences in the cell apoptosis ratio when comparedwith each other (P＜0.01). In the 100 and 150 mmHg groups there were no such statistically significant differences when compared with each other (P＞0.05).Conclusion A continuous compressive stress when given properly can have a combined effect of the proliferation inhibition and the apoptosis promotion on HSFb in vitro, and this kind of combined effects can becomeone of the important mechanisms for the pressure therapy in treating hyperplastic scar.
OBJECTIVE To study the influence and mechanism of gamma-IFN on fibroblasts in hypertrophic scars(HTS). METHODS The cultured fibroblastic cells were isolated from the hypertrophic scars of 10 patients. The fibroblasts were divided into two groups, one group was treated with gamma-IFN (100 U/ml, 5 days) and the other without gamma-IFN as control. The proliferative activity in both groups was investigated and compared by blood cytometer, the proportion of myofibroblast (MFB) and the ratio of apoptosis were examined and analysed between two groups by flow cytometry using alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) as marker. RESULTS The proliferative activity was downregulated with gamma-IFN. In gamma-IFN treated group, the differentiation of MFB were reduced and the decreasing ratio was 3.2% at the 2nd day and up to 10.5% at the 8th day, then it reduced gradually. The apoptosic ratio is 17.7% in gamma-IFN treated group, and is 10.9% in control group. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION gamma-IFN could downregulate the proliferation of fibroblasts, decrease the differentiation of MFB and induce the apoptosis. It has beneficial effect in the treatment of hypertrophic scars(HTS).
