Alginate oligosaccharides modulate cell morphology, cell proliferation andcollagen expression in human skin fibroblasts in vitro

Effects of alginate oligosaccharides on cell proliferation and expression o f collagen in cultured skin fibroblasts were studied. The oligosaccharides were found to suppress fibroblast proliferation to half the level in contro l cultures at a dose of 10 mg/ml during a period of 5 days. The inhibition was accompanied by a change in cell shape. The inhibition of cell prolifera tion was reversible, since depletion of these oligosaccharides led to a rec overy of cell motility, Treatment of confluent cells with 10 mg/ml oligosac charides for 5 days resulted in a reduction in collagen synthesis to one ha lf of that in control cultures and inhibition of steady state levels of alp ha(1)(T), alpha(2)(I), alpha(1)(III) and alpha(1)(VI) collagen mRNAs, These results suggest that alginate oligosaccharides are potential modulators of dermal fibroblasts and may provide a useful tool for the treatment of diso rders related to abnormal collagen metabolism.