title: Differential collagen-glycosaminoglycan matrix remodeling by superficial and deep dermal fibroblasts: potential therapeutic targets for hypertrophic scar.
abstract: Skin substitutes are the preferred treatment option in the case of extensive skin loss following burns or other injuries. Among skin substitutes, cultured skin substitutes containing autologous fibroblasts and keratinocytes on collagen-glycosaminoglycan (C-GAG) matrix are most preferred for wound repair. A significant negative outcome of wound healing is hypertrophic scarring (HTS), a dermal fibroproliferative disorder, that leads to considerable morbidity. To examine the role of superficial and deep dermal fibroblasts in HTS, and determine if they differentially remodel C-GAG matrices, fibroblasts were isolated from superficial and deep dermis of lower abdominal tissue of abdominoplasty patients and cultured on C-GAG matrices for four weeks. Over time, deep fibroblasts contracted and stiffened the matrices significantly more and decreased their ultimate tensile strength compared to superficial fibroblasts. Differential remodeling of C-GAG matrices by fibroblasts obtained from different locations of the same organ has not been reported before. Deep fibroblasts were found to express significantly more osteopontin, angiotensin-II, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α, and significantly less tumor necrosis factor-α, PPAR-β/δ, PPAR-γ, and the proteoglycan, fibromodulin compared to superficial fibroblasts. These molecular targets could potentially be used in therapeutic strategies for treatment of HTS.
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing Research Group, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varkey
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Tredget
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D003094:Collagen