OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of substance P in the formation of hypertrophic scar.

METHODSDermal fibroblasts derived from human normal skin were cultured with substance P alone or together with selective non-peptide NK-1 tachykinin antagonist, L-703, 606 oxalate salt. The effect of substance P on proliferation of fibroblasts was measured by MTT assay. Furthermore, the TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression in the fibroblasts was determined by in situ hybridization and image analysis.

RESULTSSubstance P enhanced fibroblast proliferation dose-dependently, which showed the maximum rate when the concentration of substance P was 25 ng/ml or higher in the culture media. By 48 hours cultured with 25 ng/ml of substance P, the fibroblasts expressed TGF-beta 1 mRNA more significantly than the fibroblasts without substance P. The effects of substance P on both fibroblast proliferation and TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression could be antagonized by L-703, 606 oxalate salt.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that substance P may play an important role in phenotype changes of fibroblasts in skin scarring.

Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermis ; cytology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists ; Quinuclidines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; Substance P ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Up-Regulation