title: Targeted killing of myofibroblasts by biosurfactant di-rhamnolipid suggests a therapy against scar formation.
abstract: Pathological myofibroblasts are often involved in skin scarring via generating contractile force and over-expressing collagen fibers, but no compound has been found to inhibit the myofibroblasts without showing severe toxicity to surrounding physiological cells. Here we report that di-rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, showed potent effects on scar therapy via a unique mechanism of targeted killing the myofibroblasts. In cell culture, the fibroblasts-derived myofibroblasts were more sensitive to di-rhamnolipid toxicity than fibroblasts at a concentration-dependent manner, and could be completely inhibited of their specific functions including α-SMA expression and collagen secretion/contraction. The anti-fibrotic function of di-rhamnolipid was further verified in rabbit ear hypertrophic scar models by presenting the significant reduction of scar elevation index, type I collagen fibers and α-SMA expression. In this regard, di-rhamnolipid treatment could be suggested as a therapy against skin scarring.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Lifang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns &Wound Care Centre, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Huawei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns &Wound Care Centre, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Chuangang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Guoliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Sitong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Tingwei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns &Wound Care Centre, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, College of Medicine, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Chunmao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004423:Ear / Q000293:injuries; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C051310:rhamnolipid hemolysin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa