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n‐Acetyl Cysteine Affects Myofibroblast ifferentiation
Author(s) -
Vaughan Melville B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a228-a
Subject(s) - myofibroblast , dapi , chemistry , transforming growth factor beta , actin , fibroblast , population , contracture , transforming growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , biology , in vitro , biochemistry , fibrosis , medicine , surgery , apoptosis , environmental health
The purpose of this study was to determine whether n‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) an antioxidant, affected the ability of dermal fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts. To test this hypothesis, fibroblasts were plated onto coverslips and incubated in the presence or absence of NAC. A second group of transforming growth‐factor beta (TGF‐beta) stimulated fibroblasts were also tested. After a 48‐hour incubation time the samples were fixed and immunostained to visualize asm‐actin and counterstained with DAPI to quantify total cell number. Cells containing stress fibers with asm‐actin were considered positive. Our results showed that NAC treatment reduced both intrinsic and TGF‐beta‐stimulated myofibroblast differentiation. This reduction in number of myofibroblasts implies that the population as a whole will have less contractile ability. Our future goal is to test this hypothesis using a collagen lattice model or culture force monitor. The ability of NAC to reduce asm‐actin and perhaps contractile force suggests a therapeutic use of NAC in pathological contractures such as Dupuytren's contracture.