title: Effect of gamma-interferon on the clinical and biologic evolution of hypertrophic scars and Dupuytren's disease: an open pilot study.
abstract: Hypertrophic scars and Dupuytren's disease are characterized by the presence of modified fibroblasts or myofibroblasts which are allegedly responsible for tissue retraction and excessive connective tissue production. gamma-Interferon, a cytokine produced by T-helper lymphocytes, has been shown to decrease fibroblast replication, alpha-smooth-muscle actin (the actin isoform characterizing myofibroblasts) expression, and collagen production. We have investigated in an open pilot study the possibility that intralesional injections of gamma-interferon exert a beneficial effect on the evolution of hypertrophic scars and Dupuytren's disease. In the 14 selected patients, gamma-interferon decreased the symptoms and the size of the lesions of both diseases; in hypertrophic scars, immunofluorescence examination showed that alpha-smooth-muscle actin expression also was decreased in myofibroblasts. Moreover, in fibroblasts cultured from 4 patients with hypertrophic scars, gamma-interferon decreased replication and alpha-smooth-muscle actin expression in vitro. Our results suggest that gamma-interferon could represent a useful adjunct to the nonsurgical therapy of hypertrophic scars and Dupuytren's disease. Larger controlled clinical studies, however, should test the validity of these preliminary observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pittet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubbia-Brandt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desmoulière
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sappino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerret
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Grimaud
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lacher
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montandon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gabbiani
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005350:Fibroma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry; D009218:Myosins / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D009218:Myosins