title: Myofibroblast expression in skin wounds is enhanced by collagen III suppression.
abstract: Generally speaking, the excessive expression of myofibroblasts is associated with excessive collagen production. One exception is seen in patients and animal models of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV in which the COL3A1 gene mutation results in reduced collagen III but with concurrent increased myofibroblast expression. This paradox has not been examined with the use of external drugs/modalities to prevent hypertrophic scars. In this paper, we injected the rabbit ear wound model of hypertrophic scarring with two doses of a protein called nAG, which is known to reduce collagen expression and to suppress hypertrophic scarring in that animal model. The higher nAG dose was associated with significantly less collagen III expression and concurrent higher degree of myofibroblast expression. We concluded that collagen III content of the extracellular matrix may have a direct or an indirect effect on myofibroblast differentiation. However, further research is required to investigate the pathogenesis of this paradoxical phenomenon.
authors: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, P.O. Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia ; College of Medicine Research Center, King Saud University, P.O. Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed M
authors: MM
authors: Al-Qattan
authors: College of Medicine Research Center, King Saud University, P.O. Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mervat M
authors: MM
authors: Abd-Elwahed
authors: Department of Surgery, King Saud University, P.O. Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Khalid
authors: K
authors: Hawary
authors: Department of Pathology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Maha M
authors: MM
authors: Arafah
authors: College of Medicine Research Center, King Saud University, P.O. Box 18097, Riyadh 11415, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Medhat K
authors: MK
authors: Shier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004535:Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D024061:Collagen Type III