Reduced growth of dermal fibroblasts from chronic venous ulcers can be stimulated with growth factors.

PURPOSE: Although the slow healing rate of venous ulcers is well known, the underlying defect in the healing process is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the cellular characteristics of fibroblasts taken from venous ulcers (wound-fb) and compare them with the fibroblasts of normal tissue (normal-fb). METHODS: Biopsy specimens were obtained from wound margins and normal tissue of the upper thigh in each patient. Dermal fibroblasts were isolated from explant cultures in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% calf serum. These cells were then plated at 1000 cells per plate, and total cells per plate were counted over time so that growth curves could be generated. In further experimentation, media was supplemented with additional calf serum (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) and growth factors (epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-1 beta) in an attempt to stimulate growth. RESULTS: Two major differences were noted: (1) normal-fb replicated more rapidly than wound-fb; and (2) the morphologic features of wound-fb were different. Normal-fb were compact and tapered, with well-defined nuclear morphologic features. Wound-fb were larger and polygonal in shape, with less-uniform nuclear morphologic features. Additional calf serum in tissue culture media enhanced normal-fb growth but had no effect on wound-fb. Supplementation of media with growth factors stimulated the growth of wound-fb. Statistically significant differences were noted at day 10 and 14 with basic fibroblast growth factor supplementation (p = 0.02 and 0.0001, respectively) and at day 14 with epidermal growth factor (p = 0.008). Although interleukin-1 beta stimulated cell growth in five of six patients, the differences observed were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that wound-fb proliferate at a slower rate and are morphologically distinct from normal-fb. These characteristics are typical of aged or senescent cells. This decreased growth can be stimulated by growth factors basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and interleukin-1 beta. Slowed growth may be partially responsible for the defect in healing of venous stasis ulcers. Furthermore, we believe that in some patients ulcer healing may be improved by exogenous provision of specific growth factors.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone-induced pigmentation is blocked by depletion of protein kinase C.

We have explored the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in pigmentation induced by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Using the well-studied S91 Cloudman mouse melanoma model system in which 10(-7) M alpha-MSH is known to produce a time-dependent increase in pigmentation, we found an increase in the activity of tyrosinase, the key enzyme in pigmentation, between Days 2 and 6 accompanied by an increase in mRNA and protein levels of tyrosinase, as well as an increase in the level of specifically the beta isoform of PKC. When S91 cells were treated with phorbol dibutyrate, 95% of PKC activity was lost within 48 h and the alpha-MSH-induced melanogenesis was completely blocked, as was the induction of tyrosinase mRNA and protein. Serially passaged S91 cells no longer capable of responding to alpha-MSH had an undetectable level of PKC-beta, although the tyrosinase protein level was identical to that of alpha-MSH-responsive cells. Furthermore, in these S91 cells alpha-MSH also did not increase the level of tyrosinase mRNA. Thus, induction of murine melanogenesis by alpha-MSH involves up-regulation of tyrosinase mRNA and protein mediated in part by the PKC-dependent pathway, associated with an up-regulation of the beta isoform previously demonstrated to specifically activate tyrosinase in human melanocytes.

The beta isoform of protein kinase C stimulates human melanogenesis by activating tyrosinase in pigment cells.

We have investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in human melanogenesis. The level of PKC activity paralleled the total melanin content in cultured newborn melanocytes. Activation of PKC by treatment with 5 x 10(-7) M phorbol dibutyrate acutely caused a doubling in the activity of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis, known to correlate directly with melanin synthesis in these cells. When PKC was depleted to 5-10% of initial levels, there was a 40-50% parallel reduction in tyrosinase activity; and regeneration of PKC activity was associated with the recovery of tyrosinase activity. By Northern blot analysis, the alpha and beta but not the gamma isoforms were detectable in melanocytes. By Western blot analysis, the racially determined pigment level in cultured melanocytes correlated with PKC-beta protein expression. In a pigmented human melanoma line (P-MM4, 20-30 ng melanin/micrograms protein)and its nonpigmented subclone (NP-MM4, undetectable melanin), PKC-alpha mRNA was expressed in both, whereas PKC-beta mRNA was detectable only in P-MM4 cells. Tyrosinase protein level was comparable in both cell lines. When NP-MM4 cell lysate was incubated with melanocyte lysate known to contain PKC-beta, tyrosinase activity per microgram of melanocyte protein in the combined lysate increased, consistent with activation of the previously inactive tyrosinase of NP-MM4 origin. Moreover, NP-MM4 cells transiently transfected with PKC-beta cDNA increased tyrosinase activity from undetectable to detectable levels. These combined data show that PKC-beta regulates human melanogenesis by activating tyrosinase.