Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on the expression of extracellular matrix and matrix metalloproteinase-1 in wound healing.
BACKGROUND
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has shown potential in clinical practice to accelerate wound healing, but the underlying biomolecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Fibroblasts are the most important cells involved in producing and remodelling the extracellular matrix (ECM) in wound healing, and are one of the major target cells of bFGF in wound repair. To date, however, we have little idea of whether there is any specific relationship between bFGF and ECM metabolism. This study aimed to investigate whether bFGF improves wound repair by regulating the balance of ECM synthesis and degradation.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of bFGF on the expression of fibronectin, collagen and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 of human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) and to evaluate whether it contributes to improving the quality of wound healing.


METHODS
HSFs were stimulated with bFGF for 72 h, and then production of fibronectin, collagen and MMP-1 was detected, using reverse transcription PCR at the transcriptional level and Western blot analysis at post-transcriptional level.


RESULTS
bFGF stimulation resulted in increases in fibronectin expression of 1.31-, 1.47-, 1.57- and 1.62-fold in a dose-dependent manner in response to 10 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL, 100 ng/mL and 500 ng/mL of bFGF, respectively, but had no effect on the expression of collagen. Further investigation revealed that bFGF dose-dependently upregulated the expression of MMP-1.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the hypothesis that bFGF has the potential to accelerate wound healing and improve the quality of wound healing by regulating the balance of ECM synthesis and degradation, suggesting a potential antiscarring role in wound healing.
Xie
J
J
Burns Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
Bian
H
H
Qi
S
S
Xu
Y
Y
Tang
J
J
Li
T
T
Liu
X
X
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D005353:Fibronectins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1