Filling effect of autologous skin fibroblasts: a study of two-photon fluorescence microscopy / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the survival profile of the intradermally injected mouse autologous skin fibroblasts and the changes of the collagen fibers by using green fluorescent protein labeling and two-photon fluorescence microscopy. Methods The cultured cells were transfected by EGFP lentivirus, and then the cells were injected into the corresponding mouse skin. Biopsy was taken from the animals after 1 and 2 months. The specimens made serial frozen sections, the survival profile of the injected cells and the changes of the collagen fibers were observed by two-photon fluorescence microscopy. The collagenic area and dermal thickness were measured with image analysis software, and statistical analysis was also carried out. Results Two-photon fluorescence microscopy showed clear images of the injected cells and collagen fibers. Both the area of collagen fibers and the dermal thickness were significantly increased in injected cells after 2 months (P<0.05), however, there were no difference between injected cells and control after 1 mouth (P>0.05). Conclusions Autologous cultured fibroblasts could survive in a long time after transplantating into the skin, and collagen could be newly produced, the depth of dermis increases, which provides a possibility to treat mini-defects of the tissue.