Summary
Background
Wounds deprived of innervation fail to heal normally, and hypertrophic scars may be
abnormally innervated. Manipulation of wounds alters the subsequent degree of scarring,
and isoforms of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) are well established in this
role, whilst TGFβ3 is undergoing clinical trials as an antiscarring agent for clinical
use. It is unclear if treated wounds show changes in their innervation patterns as
they mature into scars.
Methods
Mice underwent 1cm2 full thickness skin excisions which were treated with TGFβ1 or TGFβ3. Wounds were
harvested between 5 and 84 days (n=6 at each time point). Sections underwent histological scar assessment and immunohistochemical
staining for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), a pan-neuronal marker, and the sensory neuropeptides calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP).
Results
There was no difference in the reinnervation pattern between the peripheral and central
parts of the wounds.
Wounds treated with TGFβ3 healed with dermal collagen organised more like normal skin,
whereas TGFβ1 treated wounds had abnormally orientated collagen within the scar compared
to control treated wounds. Nerve fibre growth into the wounds followed a similar pattern
in control and treated wounds, with only one significant difference during the healing
process- at 42 days, the density of nerve fibres immunostained with PGP9.5 within
the scar was greater than in control wounds. By 84 days, the density of PGP9.5, CGRP
and SP immunopositive fibres were similar in control wounds and those treated with
TGFβ isoforms.
Conclusions
Changes in reinnervation patterns of wounds treated with TGFβ isoforms were only slightly
different from those of control wounds, and by 84 days, the patterns were similar.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 12, 2012
Accepted:
December 20,
2011
Received:
May 8,
2011
Footnotes
☆This work was presented as part of JHs thesis for the degree of doctor of Medicine (MD).
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
