ESTROGEN ACCELERATES CUTANEOUS WOUND-HEALING ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCREASE IN TGF-BETA-1 LEVELS

The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of aging on human cutaneous wound healing are poorly understood, and the possib le role of reproductive hormones in this process has never been invest igated. We report that aging in healthy females was associated with a reduced rate of cutaneous wound healing, but an improved quality of sc arring both microscopically and macroscopically, and with reduced leve ls of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TCF-beta 1) immunostaining an d steady-state mRNA in the wound. These age-related changes were rever sed by the systemic administration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT ). Moreover, ovariectomized young female rodents exhibited a marked de lay in repair of acute incisional wounds, which was reversed by the to pical application of estrogen. The cellular mechanism underlying these changes appears to Involve an estrogen-induced increase in latent TCF -beta 1 secretion by dermal fibroblasts. These results suggest that bo th the rate and quality of wound healing depend on reproductive hormon e levels.