Abstract
Objective: Fetal skin wounds heal without scarring. To determine the role of TGF-β1 in fetal wound healing, mRNA expression of TGF-β1 was analyzed in human total and adult skin wounds. Methods: Human total skin transplanted to a subcutaneous location on an adult athymic mouse that was subsequently wounded heals without scar, whereas human adult skin heals with scar formation in that location. In situ hybridization for TGF-β1 mRNA expression and species-specific immunohistochemistry for fibroblasts, macrophages, and neutrophils were performed in human adult wounds, total wounds, and total wounds treated with a TGF-β1 slow release disk. Results: Transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA expression was induced by wounding adult skin. No TGF-β1 mRNA upregulation was detected in human total skin after wounding. However, when exogenous TGF-β1 was added to human fetal skin, induction of TGF-β1 mRNA expression in human fetal fibroblasts occurred, an adult-like inflammatory response was detected, and the skin healed with scar formation. Conclusions: Transforming growth factor-β1 is an important modulator in scar formation. Anti-TGF-β1 strategies may promote scarless healing in adult wounds.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 146-154 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Annals of surgery |
Volume | 222 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1995 |