[Microwave heating modulation of skin fibrosis in chronic extremity lymphedema].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of microwave heating on skin fibrosis in chronic extremity lymphedema.

METHODS

Skin specimens from 8 cases of chronic limb lymphedema were tested by in situ hybridization (ISH) combined with avidin-biotin peroxidase (ABC) immunohistochemistry for detection of TGF-beta, procollagen I, procollagen III mRNAs and corresponding peptides expressions.

RESULTS

It was discovered that expressions of TGF-beta 1 peptide were located at the spinous and granular layer of the epidermal cells with a great amount of dermal collagen I, III formation in accordance with high expressions of TGF-beta, procollagen I, procollagen III mRNAs in the dermal and subcutaneous tissue fibroblasts. After microwave heating treatment, the epidermal expression of TGF-beta 1 and relative TGF-beta, procollagen I, procollagen III mRNAs expressions in dermal fibroblasts were greatly reduced. The smaller calibre of collagen fibers after microwave heating was also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

It is indicated that fibrosis in lymphedema is resulted from overexpressions of relevant genes like TGF-beta and subsequent extracellular matrixes (ECM) syntheses and deposition. Microwave heating can reduce fibroblast expressions of TGF-beta, procollagen I, procollagen III mRNAs as well as TGF-beta peptide synthesis, inhibiting ECM syntheses and deposition and finally reverse the skin fibrosis process.