EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(1) ON CULTURED DERMAL FIBROBLASTS FROM NORMAL AND HYPERTROPHIC SCARRED SKIN

To investigate the role of prostaglandin (PG) E(1) in preventing scar formation as well as that of the related cytokines, we cultured fibrob lasts from hypertrophic scar tissue (SDF) and normal dermis (NDF) coll ected from patients with scar contracture. We have compared the type I collagen synthesis, type I collagenase activity, and the production o f interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1 ) in two types of cultured fibroblasts before and after addition of PG E(1). Our results demonstrated that levels of type I collagen and TGF- beta(1) production were higher and that type I collagenase activity an d IL-g production were significantly lower in the culture supernatants of SDF. There was no significant difference in IL-6 production betwee n SDF and NDF culture supernatants. On the other hand, PGE(1) signific antly increased type I collagenase activity and IL-8 production in the SDF culture supernatants and it increased IL-6 and TGF-beta(1) produc tion in both types of fibroblasts. However, there was no effect on syn thesis of type I collagen in either group. To further investigate the role of TGF-beta(1) in NDF and SDF, exogenous recombinant human (rh) T GF-beta(1) was added. In NDF group, rhTGF-beta(1) induced a decrease i n the type I collagenase/type I collagen ratio. while rhTGF-beta(1) ha d no effect on the same ratio in the SDF group. These results suggest that PGE, may have a role in the prevention of hypertrophic scar by in creasing the activity of type I collagenase. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.