Suppressive effects of induced pluripotent stem cell-conditioned medium on in vitro hypertrophic scarring fibroblast activation.

Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a type of fibrosis that occurs in the skin, and is characterized by fibroblast activation and excessive collagen production. However, at present, therapeutic strategies for this condition are ineffective. Previous studies have identified that the mutual regulation of chronic inflammation, mechanical force and fibroblast activation leads to the formation of HS. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are novel bioengineered embryonic­like stem cells, initially created from mouse adult fibroblasts. The current study demonstrated that iPSC­conditioned medium (iPSC­CM) may significantly suppress hypertrophic scar fibroblast activation. It was observed that in the presence of iPSC­CM, the level of collagen I was markedly reduced and α­smooth muscle actin, a marker for myofibroblasts (activated fibroblasts that mediate mechanical force­induced HS formation), exhibited a significantly lower level of expression in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) activated with transforming growth factor­ß1. Additionally, iPSC­CM attenuated the local inflammatory cell response by blocking the adhesion of human acute monocytic leukemia cell monocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. In addition, the contractile ability of HDFs may be reduced by iPSC­CM. These observations suggest that iPSC­CM may protect against processes leading to hypertrophic scarring by attenuating fibroblast activation, blocking inflammatory cell recruitment and adhesion and reducing the contractile ability of fibroblasts.

Lumican Accelerates Wound Healing by Enhancing α2ß1 Integrin-Mediated Fibroblast Contractility.

Lumican is a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed in connective tissue and has the ability to regulate collagen fibril assembly. Previous studies have shown that lumican is involved in wound healing, but the precise effects of lumican on reepithelialization and wound contraction, the two pivotal aspects of skin wound healing, have not been investigated. Here we explored the roles of lumican in fibroblast contractility, a main aspect of skin wound healing, by adopting mice skin wound healing model and the corresponding in vitro cellular experiments. Our results showed that lumican can promote skin wound healing by facilitating wound fibroblast activation and contraction but not by promoting keratinocyte proliferation and migration. Silencing of integrin α2 completely abolished the pro-contractility of lumican, indicating lumican enhances fibroblast contractility via integrin α2. Our study for the first time demonstrated that lumican can affect fibroblast's mechanical property, which is pivotal for many important pathological processes, such as wound healing, fibrosis, and tumor development, suggesting that lumican might have a potential to be used to modulate these processes.

Correlation of the SNPs of FGFR1, FGF10, FGF18 with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate in Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the polymorphisms in gene FGFR1, FGF10, FGF18 and the nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NS CLP) in Chinese population. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral lymphocytes of 75 patients with NS CLP and their parents and 75 unimpaired healthy children. The polymorphisms in FGFR1 gene rs13317, p.E467K, p.M369I and p.S393S, FGF10 gene rs1448037 and FGF18 gene rs4043716 were detected by applying three-dimensional (3-D) polyacrylamide gel microarray technology. The data were performed using statistical analysis: the genotype frequency and allele frequency between patients with NSCL/P and control subjects were performed. Haplotype relative risk (HRR), family based association test (FBAT), and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) in nuclear family were performed. RESULTS: There were no polymorphism in FGFR1 gene p. E467K, p. M369I and p.S393S site, the corresponding base was all G. The polymorphisms of rs13317 and rs1448037 were detected and their genotype frequency and allele frequency showed no significant difference between 75 patients with NSCL/P and 75 normal children. TDT, HRR and FBAT were also no significant differences. The genotype frequency of gene FGF18 rs4043716 showed significant difference, but allele frequency were no significant difference. TDT, HRR and FBAT were also no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Our studies suggest an association between gene FGF18 rs4043716 and the NS CLP in Chinese population, and no association among gene FGFR1 rs13317, p. E467K, p. M369I, p. S393S and gene FGF10 rs1448037.

[Effect of recombinant Sp1 gene on the collagen expression of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of transfecting recombinant Sp1 into hypertrophic scar fibroblasts and investigate the proliferation and collagen I, III synthesis in the transfected cells. METHODS: Recombinant human Sp1 was transfected into hypertrophic scar fibroblasts with the karyocyte expressive vector. The expression of Sp1, collagen I, III mRNA was tested by real time PCR. The change of cell proliferation was observed with CCK8 colorimeter. RESULTS: About 30% of transfected hypertrophic scar fibroblasts showed green fluorescence positive. The relative expression of Sp1 mRNA in transfected cells, empty-vector cell or untransfected cells group was 5.26 +/- 0.76, 1.08 +/- 0.18, 1.09 +/- 0.15, respectively, showing a significant difference between thansfected and untransfected cells or between the transfected cells and empty-vector group (P <0.01, n = 5). Expression of collagen I, III mRNA was 2.49 +/- 0.40 and 1.88 +/- 0.30 in transfected cells, 0.96 +/- 0.18 and 0.95 +/- 0.18 in empty-vector cell, and 0.97 +/- 0.15 and 0.93 +/- 0.13 in untransfected cells, respectively, showing a significant difference between thansfected and untransfected cells or between the transfected cells and empty-vector group (P < 0.01, n = 5). CONCLUSIONS: The hypertrophic scar fibroblasts could be as the target cells of Sp1 gene transfection. Sp1 gene may play an important role in abnormal collagen metabolism in hypertrophic scar.

[Relationship between nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and A1298C].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T and A1298C in Chinese population. METHODS: Case-control study design was employed. MTHFR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: As to MTHFR C677T, 48 heterozygous parents with an affected child were analyzed through case-parental control study using TDT (chi2 = 0. 02, P > 0.05). The genotype frequency and allele frequency of 76 NSCL/P cases and 60 controls were analyzed through case-control study (chi2 = 9.91, P < 0.05). As to MTHFR A1298C, 27 heterozygous parents with an affected child were analyzed through case-parental control study using TDT (chi2 = 4.00, P < 0.05). The genotype frequency and allele frequency of 76 NSCL/P cases and 60 controls were analyzed through case-control study (chi2 = 4.42, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T is associated with the development of NSCL/P, and the genetic polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C is a risk factor for NSCL/P in the Chinese population.

Transcriptional regulation of human alpha1(I) procollagen gene in dermal fibroblasts.

AIM: To clarify the fractional activity of promoters from human alpha1(I) procollagen gene, the interaction between cis-elements and consensus DNA-binding proteins responsible for high promoter activity, and the potential application of promoter competitors as well as cytokines for antifibrogenesis. METHODS: Sequence between 2483 bp upstream of the start of transcription and 42 bp downstream of this site was investigated with serial 5'-deletion. The 5'-deleted promoters recombined with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) as reporter gene were transiently transfected to human dermal fibroblasts. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to show the DNA-protein binding capacity of the promoter sequence. Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interferons (INFs) were added to the culture medium of transiently transfected fibroblasts. Competitor DNA for the binding sites of Sp-1, Ap-1 and NF-1 was individually cotransfected transiently in order to block the promoter-driven CAT expression. RESULTS: Sequences of -2483 to +42 bp and -268 to +42 bp of human alpha1(I) procollagen gene had high activity as promoters. Binding sites for Ap-1 and Sp-1 were among the cis-regulatory elements recognizing consensus transcription factors responsible for basal promoter activity of sequence -268 to +42 bp. TNFalpha, IFNalpha, IFNbeta showed inhibitory effects on sequence -2 483 to +42 bp as promoter with activities 43%, 62% and 60% of control respectively. Transfection of the promoter competitors could reverse the promoter activity of -268 to +42 bp 40-60%. CONCLUSION: Sequences of -2 483 to +42 bp recombined with reporter gene provide an ideal construction for transcriptional study of alpha1(I) procollagen gene. The anti-collagen capacity of TNFalpha and IFNs is associated with their transcriptional regulation. Ap-1 and Sp-1 mediate the basal transcriptional activation of human alpha1(I) procollagen gene in dermal fibroblasts. Competitors for highly active promoters might be a novel potential candidate in fibrotic blockade.

[Reconstruction of chest wall deformity in Poland's syndrome with soft silicone prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a method for reconstruction of Poland's chest wall deformity. METHODS: The customized, textured silicone prosthesis was fabricated from a soft silicone polymer that approximated to the softness of the pectoralis major muscle. A lateral incision of 6 cm on the affected chest was made. After a subcutaneous pocket above the ribs was created through the incision, the prosthesis was placed in the pocket. RESULTS: Since October 2000, chest wall reconstruction for Poland's syndrome deformity has been performed in 7 male patients (18 to 45 years) with the customized soft silicone prosthesis. Follow-up for 3 to 17 months showed that all patients were satisfied with the aesthetical results. Seroma occurred in 2 patients, and needle aspiration was used to solve the problem. CONCLUSION: This method is simple and less traumatic. The reconstructed chest wall approximates to the softness and appearance of the contralateral pectoralis muscle.

[Basic fibroblast growth factor inhibits promoter activities of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the promoter activities of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene and the interaction between bFGF and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). METHODS: Fibroblasts of the hypertrophic scar and normal skin from a 3-year-old patient were primarily cultured and subcultured in vitro. Both of the fibroblasts were transient transfected with phCOL 2.5, containing -2.5 kb of 5'f lank sequence of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene and CAT reporter gene by FuGENE transfection reagent; and treated thereafter by 16 ng/ml bFGF, 2 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 and 16 ng/ml bFGF + 2 ng/ml TGF beta 1 for 24 hours. The relative CAT expression values were determined by CAT-ELISA. RESULTS: TGF-beta 1 strongly induced the CAT expression level, however, bFGF not only inhibited the basal CAT expression but also reduced the CAT expression up-regulated by TGF-beta 1 in normal skin and hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: bFGF can reduce the promoter activities of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene and antagonize the role of TGF-beta 1 in up-regulating the promoter activities of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene in normal skin and hyertrophic scar fibroblasts.