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Keratinocyte regulation of TGF‐β and connective tissue growth factor expression: A role in suppression of scar tissue formation
Author(s) -
Amjad Syed Basith,
Carachi Robert,
Edward Michael
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-475x.2007.00281.x
Subject(s) - connective tissue , transforming growth factor , microbiology and biotechnology , growth factor , keratinocyte , biology , pathology , medicine , cell culture , receptor , biochemistry , genetics
Allogeneic keratinocytes applied to large full‐thickness wounds promote healing while suppressing scar tissue formation. This effect may be mediated in part by their effect on the levels of transforming growth factor‐βs (TGF‐βs) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the wound and subsequent modulation of fibroblast activity. We have examined the levels of TGF‐β and CTGF produced by keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and the effect of keratinocyte‐conditioned medium using monolayer and living skin‐equivalent cultures. Keratinocyte monolayers did not release any detectable TGF‐β1, but released moderate levels of TGF‐β2 into culture medium, and stained strongly for TGF‐β1, but only weakly for TGF‐β2. Fibroblasts released large amounts of TGF‐β1, no TGF‐β2, and stained strongly for TGF‐β1. Neither cell type released TGF‐β3, but both stained strongly for TGF‐β3. Keratinocyte‐conditioned medium suppressed the levels of TGF‐βs and CTGF associated with the fibroblasts compared with fibroblasts incubated in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium and fibroblast‐conditioned medium. In living skin equivalents, keratinocytes stained very strongly for TGF‐β1 and CTGF, moderately strongly for TGF‐β3, and only weakly for TGF‐β2. Fibroblasts stained strongly for TGF‐β1 and 3 and CTGF. These observations suggest that keratinocytes may affect the TGF‐β profile in such a way as to suppress the formation of scar tissue.