title: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in healthy human fetal skin: a descriptive study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  TGF-β plays an important role in growth and development but is also involved in scarring and fibrosis. Differences for this growth factor are known between scarless fetal wound healing and adult wound healing. Nonetheless, most of the data in this area are from animal studies or in vitro studies and, thus, information about the human situation is incomplete and scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the canonical TGF-β signaling in unwounded human fetal and adult skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q-PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western Blot and Luminex assays were used to determine gene expression, protein levels and protein localization of components of this pathway in healthy skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All components of the canonical TGF-β pathway were present in unwounded fetal skin. Compared to adult skin, fetal skin had differential concentrations of the TGF-β isoforms, had high levels of phosphorylated receptor-Smads, especially in the epidermis, and had low expression of several fibrosis-associated target genes. Further, the results indicated that the processes of receptor endocytosis might also differ between fetal and adult skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This descriptive study showed that there are differences in gene expression, protein concentrations and protein localization for most components of the canonical TGF-β pathway between fetal and adult skin. The findings of this study can be a starting point for further research into the role of TGF-β signaling in scarless healing.
authors: Dept. of Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: ma.walraven@vumc.nl.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Walraven
authors: Dept. of Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: R H J
authors: RH
authors: Beelen
authors: Dept. of Molecular Cell Biology & Immunology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors: M M W
authors: MM
authors: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D022461:Caveolins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D002966:Clathrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D058575:Decorin / Q000235:genetics; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D053779:Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000032:analysis; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D022461:Caveolins; D002966:Clathrin; D024061:Collagen Type III; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; C509032:LTBP1 protein, human; D053779:Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051785:Smad Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
keywords: Canonical TGF-β signaling; Scarless fetal wound healing; Unwounded human skin