[The inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on human dermal fibroblast-populated collagen lattices].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of tamoxifen in treating abnormal skin scar contraction.


METHODS
Fibroblast-populated collagen lattices, which were made by embedding human dermal fibroblasts within type I collagen forming a three-dimensional culture system, were used as an invitro model. Then media either without or with addition of tamoxifen from 1 mumol/L to 50 mumol/L were added to the collagen lattices. Lattice areas were measured at intervals to assess the influence of tamoxifen on the lattice contraction. To visualize changes in the morphology and vitality of fibroblasts, MTT was added to the lattices.


RESULTS
Tamoxifen had an inhibitory effect on lattice contraction by a dose- and time-dependent pattern. 5 mumol/L or less of tamoxifen didn't show any influence on lattice contraction but 30 mumol/L or higher completely inhibited contraction. At intermediate concentrations from 10 mumol/L to 20 mumol/L the degree of lattice contraction was dose- and time-dependent, which was demonstrated by the reversibility of inhibition. Both the inhibition of contraction and the reversibility of inhibition appeared to correlate with changes in fibroblast morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
Tamoxifen could inhibit the contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen lattices, indicating that tamoxifen may have potential effect on abnormal scar contraction in vivo.
Department of Burn Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Dahai
D
Hu
Xiongxiang
X
Zhu
Mingda
M
Xu
Bi
B
Chen
A H
AH
Margaret
W C
WC
George
D002921:Cicatrix / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D013629:Tamoxifen; D003094:Collagen