The effect of growth hormone on fibroblast proliferation and keratinocyte migration.
BACKGROUND
The beneficial effects of growth hormones (GHs) on wound healing have been reported. Although the mechanism of how GH promotes wound healing is unclear, there are reports showing that the principal factor lies in the GH-stimulated production of IGF-1 in topical wounds. In this study, a human primary cell model was devised to examine how the topical application of GHs affects fibroblast proliferation and keratinocyte migration, which play fundamental roles in wound healing.


METHODS
The fibroblasts were cultured in media with different concentrations of GH. The amount of fibroblast proliferation was assessed using a tetrazolium-based colourimetric assay (MTT assay). The amount of newly formed IGF-I mRNA was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Keratinocyte migration was compared using a migration assay.


RESULTS
Fibroblast proliferation was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (the absorbance of 2.5IU L(-1) GH applied group: 0.3954+/-0.056, control group: 0.2943+/-0.0554, P<0.05), and the promotion of IGF-I formation by fibroblasts was observed. There was more keratinocyte migration in the experimental group than in the control group (the remaining gap in the 2.5IU L(-1) GH applied group after keratinocyte migration: 46.57+/-2.22% of the primary gap, control group: 75.14+/-3.44%, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
GH enhances the local formation of IGF-1, which activates fibroblast proliferation and keratinocyte migration. These results highlight the potential of the topical application of GHs in the treatment of wounds.
Lee
Sang Woo
SW
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Suk Hwa
SH
Kim
Ji Youn
JY
Lee
Yoonho
Y
D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D003124:Colorimetry; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone