H. Yamada et al., STIMULATION OF COLLAGEN EXPRESSION AND GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN SYNTHESIS BYMIDKINE IN HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS, Archives of dermatological research, 289(7), 1997, pp. 429-433
Midkine is a retinoid-inducible regulator off cell differentiation and
cell growth in developing embryonic tissues, The effects of midkine o
n the expression of the extracellular matrix components, collagens and
glycosaminoglycans, in dermal fibroblasts were studied, Midkine did n
ot alter fibroblast proliferation, Collagen synthesis was stimulated i
n a dose- and exposure time-dependent manner and the maximum twofold s
timulation was achieved at a concentration of 100 ng/ml for 72 h treat
ment, Midkine increased the synthesis of type I and III collagens to t
he same extent, Glycosaminoglycan synthesis was also stimulated twofol
d, mainly acounted for by an increase in hyaluronan synthesis, Midkine
enhanced mRNA levels of alpha(1) (I), alpha(2) (III), alpha(1) (VI) c
ollagens, transforming growth factor pi and matrix metalloprotease-2 b
ut did not after the mRNA levels of elastin, MMP-1 and tissue inhibito
r of metalloproteases-1. These results suggest that midkine is a poten
t stimulator of collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis and may prove
useful in the therapy of delayed wound healing.