title: [Effects of estrogen on proliferation and migration of human epidermal stem cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In vivo, the microenvironment of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) is complex, and estrogen might be involved in the micro environment. To investigate the biological effects of estrogen on the proliferation and migration of ESCs in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  hESCs were isolated from normal human foreskin and cultured. The second generation of hESCs were identified with flow cytometry after being marked with integrin beta1, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK14, and CK10 antigens. hESCs of 2 x 10(6) cell density were cultured with ESCs special medium supplemented with 0.1 nmol/L Diethylstilbestrol in group A (estrogen group), with ESCs special medium supplemented with 10 nmol/L Raloxifene hydrochloride in group B (ER blocking agent group), and with ESCs special medium in group C (control group), respectively. The 100 microm "scratch" wounds were created by scraping confluent hESCs plated on Petri dishes with a sterile pipette tip in vitro. The migrating cells from the wound edge were quantified at 24, 48, and 72 hours after incubation. The rates of wound healing were calculated by SigmaScan Pro 5.0 software at 72 hours. The proliferating effect of estrogen on hESCs was determined with MTT method at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cultured primary hESCs could adhere to the wall showing ovoid in shape and grew into colonies. Flow cytometry showed the positive results for integrin beta1,, CK19, and CK14 (with positive rate of 96.63%, 95.47%, and 94.27%, respectively) and the negative result for CK10 (with positive rate of 1.32%). In group A, the number of cells crossing the wound edge was more than those of group B and group C at 24, 48, and 72 hours. The rates of wound healing were 69.00% +/- 0.05% in group A, 35.00% +/- 0.05% in group B, and 48.00% +/- 0.06% in group C at 72 hours, showing significant differences among groups (P < 0.05). The proliferating speed of hESCs was significantly higher in group A than in groups B and C (P < 0.01), and significantly higher in group C than in group B (P < 0.01) at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estrogen can promote the proliferation and migration of hESCs in vitro. It may be involved in many biological activity of skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Region, Guangzhou Guangdong, 510010, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tongzhu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens