Effects of antisense oligonucleotide of connective tissue growth factor on apoptosis of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts and the related mechanism / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the effects of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on the apoptosis of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSF) and the related mechanisms. Methods: The hypertrophic scar fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and were divided into the following 3 groups CTGF-ASODN-treated group, liposome control group and blank control group. The distribution of CTGF-ASODN in HSF of different phases was observed under fluorescent microscope in 3 groups. Flow cytometer was employed to detect the apoptotic rate of HSF and the expression of Fas. The expression of CTGF, Fas and bcl-2 mRNA in HSF was assessed by RT-PCR. Results: 24 h after transfection, large quantity of yellow-green fluorescence was seen in the HSF cytoplasm of CTGF-ASDON group in a scattered or doted manner, but not found in that of the other 2 groups. The apoptosis rate of HSF in CTGF-ASDON group was significantly higher than those in the other 2 groups (P<0.01). RT-PCR result showed that CTGF mRNA expression in transfection group was significantly lower than that in the blank control group(P<0.05) and the Fas mRNA expression was significantly higher than that in the blank control group(P<0.01); the expression of bcl-2 mRNA had no significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusion: CTGF-ASODN can promote the apoptosis of HSF in vitro, which might be related to the up-regulation Fas gene.