OBJECTIVEThis study was to determine the proliferating and biosynthetic characters of fibroblasts from abnormal scars and normal skins after complete contact in vitro.

METHODS6 samples of keloid, hypertrophic scar and normal skin were collected respectively. Proliferation, inhibition and biosyntheses of different fibroblasts were investigated by detecting proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), P16, type I and III collagen proteins, and Pro alpha 1 (I) and Pro alpha 1 (III) procollagen gene expressions under the condition of fibroblast complete contact by means of cell culture, immunohistochemistry and molecular biological techniques, etc.

RESULTSOverlap and high levels of proliferating activity and biosyntheses of complete contact fibroblasts from keloids indicated that these fibroblasts lost the behavior of contact inhibition and density inhibition. However, proliferating activity and biosynthetic function of complete contact fibroblasts from normal skins reduced dramatically. Biosynthetic function of complete contact fibroblasts from hypertrophic scars was still very strong, but proliferating activity was lower than keloid and higher than normal skin.

CONCLUSIONProliferating and biosynthetic characters of complete contact fibroblasts from abnormal scars and normal skins were different, which may play an important role in the mechanisms of abnormal scar formation.