curcumin and Cicatrix--Hypertrophic

To seek an effective drug for treatment of human hyperplastic scar through studying the effects of curcumin on fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis.. Fibroblasts derived from scar tissue and from normal epidermal tissue were isolated and cultured separately with tissue-block method, their morphology were observed under invert phase contrast microscope, their growth curve was drawn respectively to determine the speed of growth. Then, fibroblasts from scar were stimulated with curcumin in different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 micromol/L) for detecting the inhibitory effect of curcumin on growth of fibroblasts using MTT methods and that on activity of procollagen alpha-1 gene transcription in fibroblast was detected by RT-PCR.. The cell growth curve showed that double-multiplying time was 5 days in fibroblasts from scar and 4 days in those from normal dermis, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.05). MTT showed that curcumin in 12.5 micromol/L showed a cell proliferation enhancing trend, and its absorbance value was significantly higher than that in the normal group, but the effect turned to inhibition when concentration increased to over 25-100 micromol/L, and became significant inhibition at concentration of 50 and 100 micromol/L. Besides, curcumin also showed markedly inhibition on collagen type I synthesis in fibroblasts (P < 0.01).. High concentration curcumin can inhibit effectively the fibroblast proliferation and collagen I synthesis in hyperplastic scar, therefore, may has therapeutic effect on the disease in human being.

Topics: Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; Collagen Type I; Curcumin; Fibroblasts; Humans

Keloid and hypertrophic scars commonly occur after injuries. Overproliferation of fibroblasts, overproduction of collagen, and contraction characterize these pathologic scars. Current treatment of excessive scars with intralesional corticosteroid injections used individually or in combination with other methods often have unsatisfactory outcome, frustrating both the patient and the clinician. The phytochemical compounds are well known as potential anticancer agents. We have investigated the inhibitory effects of compounds on keloid fibroblasts (KF) and hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts (HSF).. Fibroblasts were cultured from nontreated earlobe keloids and burn hypertrophic scars. Ten compounds (three hydroxybenzoic and four hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, two flavonols [quercetin and kaempferol], and turmeric curcumin) were tested with fibroblasts. The inhibitory effects of compounds on fibroblasts was assessed by proliferation assays, fibroblast-populated collagen lattice (FPCL) contraction, and electron microscopy.. The phytochemicals significantly inhibited KF and HSF proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the hydroxybenzoic and flavonol groups, increasing inhibitory effects seemed to depend on increasing numbers of hydroxyl groups in their chemical structures. This phenomenon was not observed in the hydroxycinnamic acid group. The phytochemicals inhibited fibroblast proliferation by inducing cell growth arrest but not apoptosis. The reversibility of growth inhibition occurred when the compounds were removed from the culture and fresh media was replaced. Slower reversibility of growth inhibition was observed in the groups treated with quercetin, chlorogenic acid, or curcumin. The compounds quercetin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and chlorogenic acid were the strongest inhibitors of FPLC contraction by HTFs. When the compounds were washed out of the lattices and replaced by fresh medium, the FPCL contraction was resumed. The resumption of FPCL contraction was slowest in the quercetin-treated group, indicating again the strong inhibitory effect of quercetin.. From this in vitro study, quercetin seemed to have good potent effects to inhibit proliferation and contraction of excessive scar-derived fibroblasts.

Topics: Adolescent; Biological Assay; Burns; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; Collagen; Coumaric Acids; Curcumin; Ear; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Fibroblasts; Flavonoids; Flavonols; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Kaempferols; Keloid; Quercetin