title: Microdeformation of three-dimensional cultured fibroblasts induces gene expression and morphological changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vacuum-assisted closure induces microdeformations of the wound surface and accelerates healing of complex wounds; however, a thorough understanding of the biology of cellular mechanotransduction is lacking. We hypothesized that fibroblast shape and function can be altered in an in vitro vacuum-assisted closure device.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-dimensional fibrin matrix with cultured murine fibroblasts and an intervening polyurethane foam was exposed to 125 mm Hg suction and compared with similar wells without suction. We measured fibroblast proliferation and morphology using fluorescence microscopy and gene expression change using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction at 24, 48, and 72 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wells exposed to suction induced significant proliferation of fibroblasts and morphologic changes visible by larger, rounder, and notable dendrite-like branching and process extensions. Type 1 collagen alpha 1 (COL1A1), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2, bFGF), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) were all up-regulated after 48 hours of exposure to suction. Smooth muscle actin alpha 2 (Acta2, α-SMA) was up-regulated after 72 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microdeformations produced by the combination of polyurethane foam and suction are associated with increased fibroblast proliferation and up-regulation of gene expressions in fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Dinh T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Danfeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Orgill
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics*; D000399:Air Pressure; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2