title: In vitro study of the impact of mechanical tension on the dermal fibroblast phenotype in the context of skin wound healing.
abstract: Skin wound healing is finely regulated by both matrix synthesis and degradation which are governed by dermal fibroblast activity. Actually, fibroblasts synthesize numerous extracellular matrix proteins (i.e., collagens), remodeling enzymes and their inhibitors. Moreover, they differentiate into myofibroblasts and are able to develop endogenous forces at the wound site. Such forces are crucial during skin wound healing and have been widely investigated. However, few studies have focused on the effect of exogenous mechanical tension on the dermal fibroblast phenotype, which is the objective of the present paper. To this end, an exogenous, defined, cyclic and uniaxial mechanical strain was applied to fibroblasts cultured as scratch-wounded monolayers. Results showed that fibroblasts' response was characterized by both an increase in procollagen type-I and TIMP-1 synthesis, and a decrease in MMP-1 synthesis. The monitoring of scratch-wounded monolayers did not show any decrease in kinetics of the filling up when mechanical tension was applied. Additional results obtained with proliferating fibroblasts and confluent monolayer indicated that mechanical tension-induced response of fibroblasts depends on their culture conditions. In conclusion, mechanical tension leads to the differentiation of dermal fibroblasts and may increase their wound-healing capacities. So, the exogenous uniaxial and cyclic mechanical tension reported in the present study may be considered in order to improve skin wound healing.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Besançon, Clinical Investigation Center, 2 Place St. Jacques, Inserm 1431, Besançon 25000, France; Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France. Electronic address: gwenaelrolin@orange.fr.
authors.forename: Gwenae L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rolin
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Besançon, Clinical Investigation Center, 2 Place St. Jacques, Inserm 1431, Besançon 25000, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Binda
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tissot
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viennet
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Besançon, Clinical Investigation Center, 2 Place St. Jacques, Inserm 1431, Besançon 25000, France; Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; University Hospital of Besançon, Department of Dermatology, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saas
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muret
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 1098, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology team, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; University Hospital of Besançon, Department of Dermatology, Besançon, France; EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France; SFR FED 4234, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Humbert
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; C560822:TIMP1 protein, human; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D003094:Collagen; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
keywords: Human dermal fibroblasts; Mechanical tension; Skin; Wound healing