Effect of heparin on production of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and TGF-β1 mRNA expression by human normal skin and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts

Heparin affects both dermal fibroblast proliferation and collagen and may mediate these effects by altering the levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) production and TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression as a wound heating modulator. The purpose of this study is to probe the effect of heparin on TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 mRNA production by human normal skin and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts. This research investigates the effect of heparin on TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 mRNA production by human normal skin and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts with exposure to 0 mu g/mL, 100 mu g/mL, 300 mu g/mL, or 600 mu g/mL heparin for 24, 48, 72, or 96 hours in a serum-free in vitro model. Levels of TGF-beta 1 in the supernatants and TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression of fibroblasts were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real time RT-PCR, respectively. Heparin (300 mu g/mL and 600 mu g/mL) stimulated TGF-beta 1 production by normal skin (26% to 83%) and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts (63% to 85%), with statistical significance (P < 0.05) at various time points. Heparin (300 mu g/mL and 600 mu g/mL) also stimulated TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression by normal skin (12% to 53%) and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts (33% to 52%), with statistical significance (P < 0.05) at various time points. These effects of heparin on normal skin and hyperplastic scar fibroblasts may have implications for hyperplastic scar formation and wound healing in vivo.