title: In vitro wounding: effects of hypoxia and transforming growth factor beta1 on proliferation, migration and myofibroblastic differentiation in an endothelial cell-fibroblast co-culture model.
abstract: The adequate reconstitution of human soft tissue wounds requires the coordinated interaction of endothelial cells and fibroblasts during the proliferation phase of healing. Endothelial cells assure neoangiogenesis, fibroblasts fill the defect and provide extracellular matrix proteins, and myofibroblasts are believed to support the reconstitution of microvessels. In the present study, we combined in vitro-wound size measurement and multicolour immunocytochemical staining of co-cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells and normal human dermal fibroblasts, recently introduced as co-culture scratch-wound migration assay. Applying antibodies for alpha-smooth-muscle actin, von Willebrand factor, extra domain A fibronectin and endothelin-1, we were able to monitor proliferation, migration and the differentiation process from fibroblasts to myofibroblasts as a response to hypoxia. Furthermore, we verified, whether transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and endothelin-1 are able to mediate this response. We show, that proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and fibroblasts decreased under hypoxia. The additional administration of TGFbeta1 did not significantly attenuate this decrease. Solely the myofibroblast population in co-culture adapted well to hypoxia, when cultures were supplemented with TGFbeta1. Considerating the data concerning TGFbeta1 and endothelin-1, we propose a model explaining the cellular interaction during early and late proliferation phase of human wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Trauma-, Hand- and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. martin.oberringer@uniklinikum-saarland.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oberringer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meins
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bubel
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pohlemann
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*