OBJECTIVE Influence of irradiation and phenytoin sodium on modulatory activities of wound fluid on proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis was studied. METHODS The male Wistar rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into irradiated and non-irradiated groups, and in each of them it was subdivided into phenytoin group and control. A 7 cm long incisional wound was made on the back of each rat, in which a polyvinyl alcohol sponge (PVAS) with a size of 1.0 cm x 0.4 cm was implanted into the wound and the wound was sutured up. The PVAS was prepared by rinsing in running water over night and then was boiled for 30 minutes. Before implantation, the sponge was immersed in phenytoin sodium solution (10 mg/l ml) or normal saline (as control). From each wound the wound fluid and fibroblasts were collected. The methods of incorporation of 3H were adopted to assess the proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen. RESULTS It was shown that proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis were stimulated by wound fluid remarkably on 5 to 8 days after wounding, and that 6 Gy to total-body irradiation wound decrease this effect. It was also noted that topical phenytoin sodium increased the modulatory activity of wound fluid irrespective of being irradiated or not. CONCLUSION It could be drawn that, after total-body irradiation, stimulation of hyperplasia of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis by wound fluid was markedly lowered indicating the total-body irradiation resulted in changes of local conditions of the wound which was unbenefitted to repair of tissue cells, while phenytoin sodium could enhance the stimulating action of wound fluid on proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen which was beneficial to wound healing.
OBJECTIVE This paper aims to explore the new method of continuous delivery of epidermal growth factor to wounds by transfected fibroblasts to promote wound repair. METHODS It was constructed a novel chimeric expression plasmid in which the biologically active portion of the human epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene was fused in-frame to the human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor signal sequence. RESULTS Clonally selected human fibroblasts transfected with this construct could secrete biologically active EGF. After the transplantation of irradiated gene-transfected fibroblasts suspended in fibrin glue to murine full-thickness wounds, EGF could be demonstrated for at least seven days in the wounds, slowly decreasing from initially 470 ng/L to 140 ng/L in 7 days. No EGF was found in the wound at 14 days. CONCLUSION A single application of irradiated EGF gene transfected fibroblasts to wounds can continuously deliver the transgene in vivo and can be used to administer drugs to the wound bed during the crucial first seven days of wound-healing.
Objective To investigate the influence of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of normal human skin fibroblasts so as to elucidate its relation with skin wound healing. Methods Fibroblasts wereisolated and cultured in vitro, and then exposed to different doses of LPS(0.005, 0.010, 0.050, 0.100, 0.500, and 1.000 μg/ml) from E.coli055∶B5 respectively. Then the absorbance (A) value of fibroblasts was determined with the colorirneteric thiazolylblue (MTT) assay, and the cell number was counted under inverted phase contrast microscope from the 1st day to the 9th day after LPS administration, and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts in culture medium was measured with the method of pepsin digestion after incorporation of 3Hproline into stable, single-layered, confluent fibroblasts at 7 days after LPS administration. Results Compared with control group, A value increased with the increasing concentration of LPS (0.005 μg/ml 0.500 μg/ml) and LPS of 0.100 μg/mlgroup had the best effect. The difference was remarkable from the 5th day to the 9th day(P＜0.05). A value decreased when challenged with the LPS of 1.000 μg/ml and the difference was remarkable from the 3rd day to the 9th day(P＜0.05). Cell number increased with theadministration of LPS of different concentrations (0.005 μg/ml 0.500 μg/ml) and LPS of 0.100 μg/mlgroup had the best effect. The difference was remarkable from the 1st day to the 6th day(P＜0.05). Cell number decreased remarkably when challenged with LPS of 1.000 μg/ml and the difference was remarkable from the 2nd day to the 9th day(P＜0.05). Collagen synthesis increased when challenged with LPS of different concentrations (0.005 μg/ml 0.500 μg/ml) and the 0.100 μg/ml group had the best effect. However, when the dose of LPS reached 1.000 μg/ml, it inhibited collagensynthesis. Conclusion LPS could promote the proliferation andcollagen synthesis of fibroblasts within a certain range of low doses, but over-high dose ofLPS might inhibit the proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts, suggesting that LPS of certain concentrations might contribute to wound healing, while excessive LPS has negative effect on wound healing.
OBJECTIVE: To analysis the biological characteristics of human fibroblasts transfected by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) eucaryotic expression plasmid pGRN145. METHODS: Fibroblasts from children’s foreskin were isolated and cultured in vitro, and the fibroblasts were transfected by pGRN145 with Lipofec-tAMINE PLUS Reagent. After strict screening of hygromycin B, the positive clones were subcultured. The telomerase activity was detected by RT-PCR and TRAP-PCR technique. The cell generation cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry to investigate the proliferative characteristics after transfection, and the chromosome karyotype of transformed cells was analyzed. The collagen secreted by transformed cells was detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The morphological properties of fibroblasts did not change obviously after transfection. There were telomerase activity in transfected fibroblasts, while it could not be detected in pre-transfection fibroblasts. The cell generation cycle had no obvious changes between pre-transfection and post-transfection. However, the apoptosis rate of transfected fibroblasts were decreased compared with that of pre-transfection. The fibroblasts transfected by pGRN145 maintained the normal diploid karyotype, as well as the cells could normally secret type I and III collagen. CONCLUSION: The human fibroblasts transfected by pGRN145 has telomerase activity with prolonged life span of culture, which preliminarily proves the availability of establishing standard seeding cell lines of tissue engineering by hTERT plasmid transfection techniques.
Objective To investigate the effects of bursopentin ( BP5) on expression of extracellular matrix in human lung fibroblasts ( HLFs) and its mechanism.Methods HLFs were cultured in vitro and divided into five groups. The cells in the control group were cultured in DMEMwithout TGF-β1 or BP5. The cells in TGB-β1 treatment group were cultured in DMEMcontaining 5 μg/L TGF-β1 . While in three TGF-β1 + BP5 treatment groups, the cells were cultured in DMEM containing 5 μg/L TGF-β1 and simultaneously intervened with BP5 at three different concentrations ( 2. 5 μg/mL, 5 μg/mL, and 10 μg/mL respectively) . The expression of α-SMA was detected using a fluorescent-labeling strategy. The expressions of Collagen-Ⅰ, p-Smad2/3, p-Smad3, and Smad7 proteins were measured by Western blot. Results The cells in the TGF-β1 treatment group showed positive expression of α-SMA, implying TGF-β1 had induced fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts. In the TGF-β1 treatment group, the expressions of collagen-Ⅰ( 1. 402 ±0. 158 vs. 0. 605 ±0. 367) , p-Smad2/3 ( 1. 457 ±0. 111 vs. 0. 815 ±0. 039) , and p-Smad3 ( 1. 320 ±0. 147 vs. 0. 623 ±0. 128) increased with statistical significance ( P lt; 0. 01) . Meanwhile the expression of Smad7 reduced ( 0. 614 ±0. 107 vs. 0. 865 ±0. 063, P lt;0. 05) . But in the TGF-β1 + BP5 treatment groups, over-expressions of collagen-Ⅰ, α-SMA, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 induced by TGF-β1 were obviously inhibited by BP5, especially at the BP5 concentration of 10 μg/mL ( collagen-Ⅰ: 0. 718 ±0. 049 vs. 1. 402 ±0. 158; p-Smad2 /3: 0. 696 ±0. 031 vs. 1. 457 ±0. 111; p-Smad3: 0. 766 ±0. 006 vs. 1. 320 ±0. 147; all P lt; 0. 01) . Otherwise, the up-regulation of Smad7 ( 1. 237 ±0. 173 vs. 0. 614 ±0. 107) was found.Conclusions Bursopentin can reduce the expressions of collagen-Ⅰ and α-SMA protein of fibroblast stimulated by TGF-β1 , maybe through inhibiting TGF-β1 /Smads transduction pathway. It is suggested that bursopentin may have intervention effect on pulmonary fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between intracellular actin and scar contracture. METHODS: Fibroblasts from 10 cases of hypertrophic scar and 5 cases of keloid were cultured in vitro. Total actin, filamentous actin(F actin), globular actin (G actin) and the ratio of F to G actin(F/G) were measured by densitometry after differential extraction and separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium sulfate. RESULTS: Total actin, F actin, G actin and F/G in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were 2.38 ng/10(4) cells, 0.98 ng/10(4) cells, 1.42 ng/10(4) cells and 0.68 respectively, while in keloid fibroblasts were 1.68 ng/10(4) cells. 0.46 ng/10(4) cells, 1.26 ng/10(4) cells, and 0.36 respectively. There was significant differences between two tissues fibroblasts in the items of total actin, F actin, G actin, and F/G (P lt; 0.01), while no significant difference in G actin (P gt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: Total intracellular actin, F actin, and F/G may play an important role in the scar contracture. The hypertrophic scar and keloid can be distinguished by the contents of total intracellular actin, F actin and F/G.
Objective To evaluated the role of wt-P53 protein in telomerase regulation in keloid fibroblasts(KFBs). Methods The fibroblasts were derived from humankeloid tissue which was proved by pathological diagnosis. KFBs were divided into 2 groups, the transfection group and the untransfection group. wt-p53 gene was transfected into the fibroblasts by adenovirus vectors in the transfection group. The KFBs untransfected with wt-p53 gene served as control (untransfection group). After 48 hours of transfection, the expression of wt-P53 protein was analyzed by both Western blotting and immunofluorescence method, respectively. The telomerase activity was evaluated by TRAP-ELISA after 1-7 days of transfection. Results All the KFBs from 2 groups expressed wt-P53 protein. But the expression level of wt-P53 protein in the transfection group was significantly higher than that in the untransfection group.At the same time of high expression of wt-P53 protein, the telomeraseactivity of KFBs in transfection group was significantly lower than that in theuntransfection group(P＜0.05). Conclusion High level expression of wt-P53 protein can transiently inhibit the telomerase activity of KFBs.
Objective To establish a method of constructing skin-equivalents (SE) by the hair follicle stem cells (HFSC) and the fibroblasts. Methods The K19 immunostainning was employed to localize the HFSC in the human scalp from the cosmetic surgery. The isolated HFSC through the enzyme digestion were seeded on the dermal equivalent (DE) formed by polymerization of the fibroblasts and collagen. After being cultured between the air-liquid interface for 14 days, SE were harvested and used for an evaluation. Results HFSC were located mainly in the outer root sheath in the hair follicle. Based on DE, the growing HFSC could build a fullydeveloped and multilayered epidermis with the basal membrane formedb etween the epidermis and the dermis. The fibroblasts were active and spread evenly in the collagen matrix. Conclusion The hair follicle stem cells located in the outer root sheath can be successfully used to construct skin-equivalents in vitro and have a promising clinical use in the treatment.
Objective To construct human brain-derived neurotrophic factor retroviral vector-pLXSN (hBDNFpLXSN), and to evaluate the bioactivity of hBDNF. Methods The genome mRNA was extracted from embryonic brain tissue of a 5-month-old infant, the hBDNF gene sequence was obtained with RT-PCR technology, and hBDNF-pLXSN constructed in vitro was used to infect the fibroblasts (NIH/3T3). The expression of hBDNF was identfied by the immunohistochemistry method, and the NIH/3T3 and BDNF biological activities were determined by culture of the PC12 cells and dorsal root gangl ia. Results The hBDNF-pLXSN was constructed successfully by sequencing analyses. The infected NIH/3T3 showed positive expression of hBDNF. The infected NIH/3T3 could product hBDNF. Bioactivity of the products could support the PC12cell survival and neurite growth in the primary cultures of dorsal root gangl ia neurons of mice. Conclusion hBDNF-pLXSNvirus has the abil ity to infect NIH/3T3 and make it expressed and secreted hBDNF with the biological activity. It can be used to treat facial paralysis as a gene therapy.
OBJECTIVE: To construct human bone morphogenetic protein-2(hBMP-2) expressing eukaryotic vector and observe whether it can be expressed in eukaryotic cells. METHODS: pUC19 was digested with Sal I and Xba I. The resulting Sal I-Xba I fragment (1.24 kb) which contains the full length of human BMP-2 cDNA was separated on agarose gel and ligated into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3 digested with XhoI and XbaI. The recombinant pcDNA3-hBMP-2 plasmid was transferred into fibroblasts cell line NIH3T3. The stable expression of hBMP-2 in the positive cells G418 selected was determined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The two fragments digested from recombinant pcDNA3-hBMP-2 plasmid by EcoR I and Xba I represented 1.3 kb and 5.38 kb respectively by agarose electrophoresis, meanwhile the Xho I site was disappeared in pcDNA3-hBMP-2 indicating the successful construction of recombinant pcDNA3-hBMP-2 plasmid. Stable expression of hBMP-2 in pcDNA3-hBMP-2 transfected cells was confirmed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis. CONCLUSION: hBMP-2 expressing eukaryotic vector is successfully constructed and can be expressed in eukaryonic cells.
