Hyaluronan used for intradermal injections is incorporated into the pericellular matrix and promotes proliferation in human skin fibroblasts in vitro.

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade injectable hyaluronan (HA) formulations have been widely used to decrease the visibility of skin aging. However, little basic research has been performed to address their effect on dermal skin fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether human skin fibroblasts are affected by exogenous non-cross-linked HA with respect to proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix composition.

METHODS

The effect of a non-cross-linked HA on proliferation, migration and gene expression of human dermal fibroblasts was determined. Furthermore, affinity histochemistry of pericellular HA was performed.

RESULTS

Proliferation was significantly stimulated by HA whereas migration was not affected. Importantly, exogenous HA was incorporated into fine HA filaments of the pericellular fibroblast matrix.

CONCLUSION

This is the first evidence that a HA formulation used in humans for cosmetic reasons stimulates fibroblast proliferat