OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential therapeutic effect of tamoxifen in treating abnormal skin scar contraction.

METHODSFibroblast-populated collagen lattices, which were made by embedding human dermal fibroblasts within type I collagen forming a three-dimensional culture system, were used as an invitro model. Then media either without or with addition of tamoxifen from 1 mumol/L to 50 mumol/L were added to the collagen lattices. Lattice areas were measured at intervals to assess the influence of tamoxifen on the lattice contraction. To visualize changes in the morphology and vitality of fibroblasts, MTT was added to the lattices.

RESULTSTamoxifen had an inhibitory effect on lattice contraction by a dose- and time-dependent pattern. 5 mumol/L or less of tamoxifen didn't show any influence on lattice contraction but 30 mumol/L or higher completely inhibited contraction. At intermediate concentrations from 10 mumol/L to 20 mumol/L the degree of lattice contraction was dose- and time-dependent, which was demonstrated by the reversibility of inhibition. Both the inhibition of contraction and the reversibility of inhibition appeared to correlate with changes in fibroblast morphology.

CONCLUSIONTamoxifen could inhibit the contraction of fibroblast-populated collagen lattices, indicating that tamoxifen may have potential effect on abnormal scar contraction in vivo.