Differential effect of etretinate on proliferation and extracellular matrix metabolism of human dermal fibroblasts from elderly and young individuals in a novel three-dimensional culture.

The effect of etretinate on proliferation and biosynthesis of collagens and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were investigated using human dermal fibroblasts in a novel three-dimensional culture supplemented with L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate. Fibroblasts from two young and two elderly individuals were studied at different concentrations of etretinate, 0.25, 1.0 and 2.5 microg/ml. Collagens (hydroxyproline) and GAGs (disaccharide units) extracted from the cell layer were analyzed and quantified biochemically by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Etretinate showed no significant effect on fibroblast proliferation either in the monolayer or the three-dimensional culture. Etretinate increased the collagen or GAGs content in the cell layer, which was prominent at etretinate concentrations of 1.0 and 2.5 or 0.25 microg/ml, respectively in fibroblasts from the elderly (P < 0.05). This effect was not seen in dermal fibroblast from the young. These results suggest that etretinate may have the differential effect on collagen and GAG metabolisms depending on the donor age of the cultured fibroblasts.