Vitamin A and retinoic acid: induced fibroblast differentiation in vitro.
The role of vitamin A in wound healing and fibroplasia has been studied extensively in vivo but the mechanism(s) of its action has not been established. In this study the effect of vitamin A and retinoic acid on fibroblast growth and collagen accumulation in vitro was examined. Vitamin A and retinoic acid added to Balb 3T3 mouse fibroblasts in tissue culture resulted in induction of cell differentiation as manifested by a decrease in cell growth rate, enhanced collagen accumulation, and morphologic differentiation. The results of this in vitro study suggest that the stimulatory in vivo effect of vitamin A and retinoic acid on collagen accumulation and fibroplasia in healing wounds is due in a major way to fibroblast differentiation and enhanced collagen synthesis.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013997:Time Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014801:Vitamin A; D014212:Tretinoin; D003094:Collagen