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 localize the distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) in tissues from dermal chronic ulcer and hypertrophic scar and to explore their effects on tissue repair. METHODS: Twenty-one cases were detected to localize the distribution of bFGF and TGF-beta, among them, there were 8 cases with dermal chronic ulcers, 8 cases with hypertrophic scars, and 5 cases of normal skin. RESULTS: Positive signal of bFGF and TGF-beta could be found in normal skin, mainly in the keratinocytes. In dermal chronic ulcers, positive signal of bFGF and TGF-beta could be found in granulation tissues. bFGF was localized mainly in fibroblasts cells and endothelial cells and TGF-beta mainly in inflammatory cells. In hypertrophic scar, the localization and signal density of bFGF was similar with those in granulation tissues, but the staining of TGF-beta was negative. CONCLUSION: The different distribution of bFGF and TGF-beta in dermal chronic ulcer and hypertrophic scar may be the reason of different results of tissue repair. The pathogenesis of wound healing delay in a condition of high concentration of growth factors may come from the binding disorder of growth factors and their receptors. bFGF may be involved in all process of formation of hypertrophic scar, but TGF-beta may only play roles in the early stage.
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.
Objective To study the effect and mechanism of the apoptosis of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSF) induced by artesunate(Art). Methods HSFs were isolated and cultured from human earlobe scars by the tissue adherence method. The 3th to 5th generation cells were harvested and divided into two groups. HSF was cultured with normal medium in control group and with medium containing60, 120 and 240 mg/L (5 ml)Art in experimental group. Apoptosis and cell cycle were identified by light microscopy, electronmicroscopy and flow cytometry. Then, HSF was cultured with normal medium in control group and with medium containing 30, 60 and 120 mg/L Art in experimental group. The changes of intracellular calcium concentration were observed. Results The primary HSF was fusiform in shape and adherent. The vimentin positive expression was analyzed by immunocytochemistry. Art could induce apoptosis of HSF in the range of 60-240 mg/L under inverted microscope. The effect was dose and timedependent. Clumping of nuclear chromatin showed margination in the experimentalgroup. And the disaggregation of the nucleolus were observed under electronmicroscopy. There were significant differences in the proportion of HSF apoptosis and HSF at G0-G1,S, G2-M stages between the two groups(P＜0.05). Apoptotic peak was shown in experimental group by flow cytometry. The peak became more evident asArt concentration increased. The intracellular calcium concentration elevated markedly in HSF with 30-120 mg/L Art treatment for 24 hours, showing significant differences between the two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion The Art facilitates HSF cells apoptosis in vitro by the change of cell cycle. It is suggested that intracellular calcium variation may be one of the mechanisms of HSF apoptosis induced by Art.
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 observe the protein expression of phosphorylated form of P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P38MAPK) and c-Jun in hypertrophic scar skin and to explore their influences on the formation and maturation of hypertrophic scar. METHODS: The expression intensity and distribution of phosphorylated form of P38MAPK and c-Jun were examined with immunohistochemistry and pathological methods in 16 cases of hypertrophic scar skin and 8 cases of normal skin. RESULTS: In normal skin, the positive signals of phosphorylated form of P38MAPK mostly distributed in basal lamina cells of epidermis, while c-Jun was mainly located in epidermal cells and endothelial cells. The positive cellular rates of two proteins were 21.3% +/- 3.6% and 33.4% +/- 3.5% respectively. In proliferative hypertrophic scar skin, the particles of phosphorylated P38MAPK and c-Jun were mainly located in epidermal cells and some fibroblasts. The positive cellular rates of two proteins were significantly elevated to 69.5% +/- 3.3% and 59.6% +/- 4.3% respectively (P lt; 0.01). In mature hypertrophic scar, the expression of these proteins decreased but was still higher than that of normal skin. CONCLUSION: The formation and maturation of hypertrophic scar might be associated with the alteration of phosphorylated P38MAPK and c-Jun protein expression in hypertrophic scar.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) induced by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). METHODS: Five samples of hypertrophic scars and three samples of normal mature scars were collected as the experimental and control groups respectively. The fibroblasts were isolated from scars, and cultured in 2-dimension or 3-dimension culture system. The immunohistochemical staining method of LSAB were used to investigate the expression of alpha-SMA in fibroblasts in the different concentration of TGF-beta 1. RESULTS: The expression of alpha-SMA in 3-dimension culture system were markedly lower than those in 2-dimension culture system with respect to the fibroblasts in the experimental group. The expression of alpha-SMA in fibroblasts were different in response to various TGF-beta 1 concentration, it was more effective at the concentration of 5 ng/ml. The expression of alpha-SMA in the fibroblasts from hypertrophic scars seemed to be more sensitive to TGF-beta 1 compared to that of the normal mature scars. CONCLUSION: There are concentration-dependent in the expression of alpha-SMA induced by TGF-beta 1 in scar fibroblasts in vitro. The biological characteristics of the fibroblasts from hypertrophic scars and normal mature scars and their sensitivity to the inducement of TGF-beta 1 were different. The inducement of TGF-beta 1 may be depressed by extracellular matrix components and that may decrease the expression of alpha-SMA.
Objective To identify the effect of β-endorphin in the development of paresthesia in hypertrophic scar by detecting the expression and content of β-endorphin in human normal skin and hypertrophic scar. Methods Hypertrophic scar samples were collected from 42 patients with hypertrophic scar for 1-20 years (mean, 4.5 years), including 15 males and27 females with an average age of 32.6 years (range, 16-50 years). According to the kind of paresthesia, they were divided into 3 gourps: non-pain-pruritus group (n=20), pruritus group (n=14), and pain-pruritus group (n=8). Normal skin samples (normal skin group) were harvested from 5 patients undergoing skin grafting surgery, including 3 males and 2 females with an average age of 24.6 years (range, 15-37 years). The immunofluorescence method was used to observe the expression of β-endorphin and ELISA method to detect the concentrations of β-endorphin in the tissues. Results The β-endorphin expressed in all samples, and it expressed around peri pheral nerve fibers in the dermis, fibroblasts, and monocytoid cells princi pally; and it expressed significantly ber in pruritus group and pain-pruritus group than in non-pain-pruritus group and normal skin group. The β-endorphin content was (617.401 ± 97.518) pg/mL in non-pain-pruritus group, (739.543 ± 94.149) pg/mL in pruritus group, (623.294 ± 149.613) pg/mL in pain-pruritus group, and (319.734 ± 85.301) pg/mL in normal skin group; it was significantly higher in non-pain-pruritus group, pruritus group, and pain-pruritus group than in normal skin group (P lt; 0.05); it was significantly higher in pruritus group than in non-pain-pruritus group and pain-pruritus group (P lt; 0.05); and there was no significant difference between non-pain-pruritus group and pain-pruritus group (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The expression of β-endorphin is high in hypertrophic scar, it may paly an important role in process of pruritus in these patients.
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.
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.