calpain and Cicatrix--Hypertrophic

Hypertrophic scars, the most common complication of burn injuries, are characterized by excessive deposition of fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix proteins. Calpain, a calcium-dependent protease, is involved in the fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix production observed in certain fibrotic diseases. However, its role in the formation of post-burn hypertrophic skin scars remains largely unknown. Here, calpain expression and activity were assessed in skin fibroblasts obtained directly from patients with third-degree burns, who consequently developed post-burn hypertrophic scars. Furthermore, the antifibrotic effect of calpastatin, an endogenous calpain inhibitor, was evaluated in human fibroblasts and a murine burn model. The activity, mRNA levels, and protein levels of calpain were markedly higher in fibroblasts from the burn wounds of patients than in normal cells. Selective calpain inhibition by calpastatin markedly reduced not only the proliferation of burn-wound fibroblasts but also the mRNA and protein expression of calpain, transforming growth factor-beta 1, α-smooth muscle actin, type I and type III collagens, fibronectin, and vimentin in burn-wound fibroblasts. The anti-scarring effects of calpastatin were validated using a murine burn model by molecular, histological, and visual analyses. This study demonstrates the pathological role of calpain and the antifibrotic effect of calpastatin via calpain inhibition in post-burn hypertrophic scar formation.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Burns; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Calpain; Cell Proliferation; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; Collagen Type III; Extracellular Matrix; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Female; Fibroblasts; Fibronectins; Humans; Hypertrophy; Male; Mice; Middle Aged; RNA, Messenger; Skin; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Young Adult

To explore the effect and molecular mechanism of gallic acid (GA) on the cytostatic and cytotoxicity of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFs).. HSFs were treated with a serial dose of GA for indicated time. The cytostatic and cytotoxicity of GA were evaluated by microscopy, trypan blue exclusion assay and LDH releasing. The mechanisms of GA-induced cytostatic were examined by cell cycle distribution assay and the expression of cell cycle-relative protein. GA-elicited apoptosis were verified by TUNEL assay, mitochondria membrane potential, caspase activity and the expression of apoptosis-relative protein. GA-induced necrosis was confirmed by lysosome rupture using acridine orange stain. Various blockers, including intracellular calcium chelator; BAPTA-AM, IP3R blocker; 2-APB, calpain inhibitor, ALLM and ALLN were used to address the signaling cascade in GA-induced HSF necrosis.. GA-induced growth inhibition, apoptosis, and necrosis in HSFs depend on increasing dose. HSFs treated with GA at non-cytotoxic concentrations (50 to 75μM) significant increased both the S- and G2/M-phase HSFs population, and this event was accompanied with down-regulation of cyclin A, cyclin B, CDK1 and CDK2. Incubation of HSFs with 100-150μM of GA induced apoptosis through Bcl2/Bax-mitochondrial-dependent pathway. While the concentrations up to 200μM of GA that elicited necrosis via a calcium/calpain I/lysosome rupture signaling axis. Interestingly, GA at 200μM did not harm to keratinocyte.. These results revealed that GA might have the potential to be developed as a treatment for patients with hypertrophic scar.

Topics: Apoptosis; Calcium; Calpain; Cell Cycle; Cells, Cultured; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down-Regulation; Fibroblasts; Gallic Acid; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Keratinocytes; Lysosomes; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Necrosis; Signal Transduction