Open Access

Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts

  • Authors:
    • Chen Fan
    • Ying Dong
    • Yan Xie
    • Yonghua Su
    • Xufang Zhang
    • David Leavesley
    • Zee Upton
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 31, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2299
  • Pages: 985-991
  • Copyright: © Fan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Hypertrophic scarring/hypertrophic scars (HS) is a highly prevalent condition following burns and trauma wounds. Numerous studies have demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF‑β1) plays an essential role in the wound healing process by regulating cell differentiation, collagen production and extracellular matrix degradation. The increased expression of TGF-β1 is believed to result in the formation of HS. Shikonin (SHI), an active component extracted from the Chinese herb, Radix Arnebiae, has previously been found to downregulate the expression of TGF-β1 in keratinocyte/fibroblast co-culture conditioned medium. In view of this, in this study, we aimed to further investigate the effects of SHI on TGF-β1-stimulated hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) and examined the underlying mechanisms. Cell viability and proliferation were measured using alamarBlue and CyQUANT assays. The total amount of collagen and cell contraction were examined using Sirius red staining and the cell contraction assay kit. Gene expression and signalling pathway activation were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Our results revealed that SHI reduced TGF-β1‑induced collagen production through the ERK/Smad signalling pathway and attenuated TGF-β1‑induced cell contraction by downregulating α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression in the HSFs. The data from this study provide evidence supporting the potential use of SHI as a novel treatment for HS.
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October-2015
Volume 36 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Fan C, Dong Y, Xie Y, Su Y, Zhang X, Leavesley D and Upton Z: Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts. Int J Mol Med 36: 985-991, 2015.
APA
Fan, C., Dong, Y., Xie, Y., Su, Y., Zhang, X., Leavesley, D., & Upton, Z. (2015). Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 36, 985-991. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2299
MLA
Fan, C., Dong, Y., Xie, Y., Su, Y., Zhang, X., Leavesley, D., Upton, Z."Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 36.4 (2015): 985-991.
Chicago
Fan, C., Dong, Y., Xie, Y., Su, Y., Zhang, X., Leavesley, D., Upton, Z."Shikonin reduces TGF-β1-induced collagen production and contraction in hypertrophic scar-derived human skin fibroblasts". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 36, no. 4 (2015): 985-991. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2015.2299