OBJECTIVETo study the effects of oxymatrine (OM) on the expressions of pro-collagen I (PC I), pro-collagen II (PC III), fibronectin (FN), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) mRNA of fibroblasts from keloid (KFb), hyperplastic scar (HFb), and normal skin (NFb), and to compare with hydrocortisone (HC).

METHODSThe primary KFb, HFb and NFb were derived from patients and cultured in vitro using tissue block culture method. The fibroblasts were treated with 500 microg/mL OM, 2 microg/mL HC, or without any medicine (as the control). The mRNA expressions of PC I, PC III, FN, MMP-1 of the fibroblasts were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSUnder the normal condition, when compared with NFb, the mRNA expressions of PC I of KFb and HFb increased by 31.7% and 34.2% (both P < 0.05). Besides, the mRNA expression of PC III of KFb increased by 44.9% (P < 0.01). OM down-regulated the mRNA expressions of FN and PC I of HFb by 18.8% and 23.6% respectively (both P < 0.05). HC decreased the mRNA expressions of FN and PC I of HFb by 26.8% and 43.6% respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Meantime, OM up-regulated the mRNA expression of MMP-1 of KFb by 21.8% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOM suppressed the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) possibly through down-regulating the mRNA expressions of PC I and FN. Compared with HC, OM could promote the degradation of ECM through inducing the MMP-1 mRNA expressions of KFb. Therefore, OM could be potentially used in treatment of hypertrophic scar and keloid.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Procollagen ; metabolism ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology