Hirano Shigeru, Thibeault Susan, Bless Diane M, Ford Charles N, Kanemaru Shin-ichi
Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53792, USA.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002 Aug;111(8):661-6. doi: 10.1177/000348940211100801.
Vocal fold fibrotic scar is characterized by fibrosis of the lamina propria and epithelium, and is difficult to treat. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has antifibrotic activity and has received attention as a possible therapeutic alternative to treat fibrosis. In this study, in order to clarify whether HGF can be involved in vocal fold scarring, we examined the existence of HGF and its receptor, c-Met, in rat vocal folds, and then the activity of HGF in rabbit injured vocal folds, using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found HGF and c-Met on epithelial cells and gland cells of the rat vocal folds. On the injured vocal folds of rabbits, little HGF was observed immediately after injury, but prominent activity occurred simultaneously with reepithelialization of the vocal fold mucosa on days 10 to 15. The activity of HGF was observed on fibroblasts in the lamina propria, as well as the epithelium. It is suggested that HGF in the vocal folds is produced by the fibroblasts and delivered to the epithelium. The implication of these findings is that HGF is involved in wound healing of the vocal fold, and may provide an alternative approach in preventing and treating vocal fold scarring.
声带纤维化瘢痕的特征是固有层和上皮的纤维化，且难以治疗。肝细胞生长因子（HGF）具有抗纤维化活性，作为治疗纤维化的一种可能的替代疗法受到了关注。在本研究中，为了阐明HGF是否参与声带瘢痕形成，我们使用免疫组织化学和酶联免疫吸附测定法，检测了大鼠声带中HGF及其受体c-Met的存在情况，然后检测了兔损伤声带中HGF的活性。我们在大鼠声带的上皮细胞和腺细胞中发现了HGF和c-Met。在兔损伤的声带上，损伤后立即观察到少量HGF，但在第10至15天，随着声带黏膜的重新上皮化同时出现了显著的活性。在固有层的成纤维细胞以及上皮中均观察到了HGF的活性。提示声带中的HGF由成纤维细胞产生并传递至上皮。这些发现的意义在于，HGF参与声带的伤口愈合，并且可能为预防和治疗声带瘢痕形成提供一种替代方法。
