HGF suppresses the production of collagen type III and α-SMA induced by TGF-β1 in healing fibroblasts

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of HGF in blocking TGF-beta 1-induced collagen III and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) production in rat healing fibroblasts, fibroblasts were obtained from healing medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. Cell culture was supplemented with 5 ng/ml of TGF-beta 1 along with increasing doses of HGF (10-40 ng/ml). The productions of collagen III in supernatants culture were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of alpha-SMA was assessed by Western blot. Treatment with TGF-beta 1 significantly stimulated collagen III and alpha-SMA production in healing fibroblasts. Remarkably, the addition of HGF reduced productions of all components induced by TGF-beta 1 in a dose-dependent manner. This study shows that HGF antagonizes the action of TGF-beta 1 effectively in cultured healing MCL injury fibroblasts. The results provide a cellular and molecular basis for HGF's acting as a therapeutic agent for MCL scar formation and poor healing.