Effect of asiaticoside on proliferation of scar fibroblasts and expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7 / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) is an essential factor for pathological scar formation. Smad protein group is the signal protein of lower reaches of TGF-β receptor. Asiaticoside can inhibit proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of collagen to reduce TGF-β expression in the scar.OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of asiaticoside on proliferation of scar fibroblasts and phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7.DESIGN: Controlled study with observation, in which cell was taken as the object.SETTING: Department of burn and plastic surgery of a hospital affiliated to a university.PARTICIPANTS: The experiment was performed in Surgical Laboratory in Sun Yat-sen University from April 2002 to March 2003. The specimens were selected from 6 inpatients receiving plastic operation due to hyperplasic scar including 3 male and 3 female cases aged varied from 1 to 35 years. The hyperplasic scar fibroblasts were obtained generated from original culture in laboratory of surgical department.INTERVENTIONS: In the research, the experiment group and the control group were divided. In the experiment group, asiaticoside was applied on fibroblasts; in the control group, asiaticoside was not prescribed. The changes of every index were observed before and after medication.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Effect of asiaticoside on expression of phosphorylated Smad2 and Smad7; ② Effect of asiaticoside on cell cycle and apoptosis.RESULTS: Asiaticoside inhibited scar fibroblasts entering M phrase from S phrase and reduced the content of phosphorylated Smad2 in fibroblasts, which did not present significant difference in two groups ( t = 1.53, P =0.08).The content of Smad7 in the cells was (50. 80 ± 22.40)% in the experiment group and (32.18 ± 17.84)% in the control group, which indicated significant difference ( t = 2. 17, P = 0. 024).CONCLUSION: Asiaticoside inhibits scar formation by Smad passage.