FIBROBLASTS DERIVED FROM HUMAN CHRONIC DIABETIC WOUNDS HAVE A DECREASED PROLIFERATION RATE, WHICH IS RECOVERED BY THE ADDITION OF HEPARIN

We have studied the growth kinetics of fibroblasts derived from uninju red skin and chronic wounds in non-diabetic and diabetic (IDDM) patien ts. DNA measurements during the first 24 h after cell starvation showe d that fibroblasts derived from chronic wounds, both non-diabetic and diabetic, display a decreased adhesion and proliferation. When determi ning the rate of proliferation after another 48, 72 and 96 h, a signif icant decrease in the proliferation rate was found in the chronic woun d fibroblasts compared to those from uninjured skin. Furthermore, we h ave investigated the effects of heparin, hyaluronic acid and other hep arin-like substances on the proliferation of non-diabetic and diabetic fibroblasts. We found that these substances stimulated the proliferat ion of human fibroblasts derived from both normal skin and chronic wou nds measured as DNA content. Stimulation with heparin normalized the p roliferation of the diabetic chronic wound fibroblasts. This effect wa s independent of the presence of serum. The effect of heparin was dose -dependent and most pronounced during the first 24 h of stimulation. T hese results suggest that heparin may be of importance in the treatmen t of chronic diabetic wounds. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.