[Characteristics and effect of three transforming growth factor-beta isoforms and their receptor(I) on scar formation].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the differences in protein contents of three transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) isoforms, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3 and their receptor(I) in hypertrophic scar and normal skin and to explore their influence on scar formation.

METHODS

Eight cases of hypertrophic scar and their corresponding normal skin were detected to compare the expression and distribution of TGF-beta 1, beta 2, beta 3 and receptor(I) with immunohistochemistry and common pathological methods.

RESULTS

Positive signals of TGF-beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 could all be detected in normal skin, mainly in the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix of epidermal cells; in addition, those factors could also be found in interfollicular keratinocytes and sweat gland cells; and the positive particles of TGF-beta R(I) were mostly located in the membrane of keratinocytes and some fibroblasts. In hypertrophic scar, TGF-beta 1 and beta 3 could be detected in epidermal basal cells; TGF-beta 2 chiefly distributed in epidermal cells and some fibroblast cells; the protein contents of TGF-beta 1 and beta 3 were significantly lower than that of normal skin, while the change of TGF-beta 2 content was undistinguished when compared with normal skin. In two kinds of tissues, the distribution and the content of TGF-beta R(I) had no obviously difference.

CONCLUSION

The different expression and distribution of TGF-beta 1, beta 2 and beta 3 between hypertrophic scar and normal skin may be associated with the mechanism controlling scar formation, in which the role of the TGF-beta R (I) and downstream signal factors need to be further studied.