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The Effects of the Plasminogen Pathway on Scar Tissue Formation
Author(s) -
Samara Ghassan J.,
Schaffner Adam D.,
Eisenstat Jonathan,
Nguyen HoangLan T.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-200401000-00007
Subject(s) - wound healing , fibrin , medicine , h&e stain , pathology , trichrome , staining , surgery , immunology
Objectives/Hypothesis The authors sought to determine the role of the plasminogen pathway in wound healing. They hypothesized that decreased fibrin degradation may lead to increased collagen deposition. Presuming that the degree of histopathological abnormality correlates with the aesthetic appearance of the scar, we conducted a study that attempted to determine the histopathological appearance of scar tissue in mice with and without impaired function of the plasminogen pathway. Study Design Mice with and without deficiencies in the plasminogen pathway underwent surgery. The role of the plasminogen pathway in wound healing was studied by analysis of scar tissue formation using the methods described. Methods A 2‐cm incision was made on the dorsum of mice with and without specified genetic deficiencies in the plasminogen pathway. After the animals were killed, the tissue was harvested, fixed, and prepared using hematoxylin and eosin as well as trichrome stains. Histopathological analysis and scoring were performed by two separate investigators in a blinded manner. Student's t test was used to determine statistical significance between groups. Results A statistically significant difference in collagen orientation was noted between mice with impaired plasminogen pathway function and the wild‐type (control) group ( P = .0163). A statistical trend toward improved wound healing for plasminogen‐deficient mice was found for overall histomorphological score ( P = .0706). Conclusion The role of the plasminogen pathway in wound healing is one that should be noted and may lead to the development of new therapies that reduce scar tissue formation. Hence, the role of other thrombolytic and anti‐thrombolytic agents in wound healing should be further investigated to precisely identify agents that play the most significant role in scar tissue formation.