Construction of animal models of keloid by tissue engineering]

OBJECTIVE: To construct animal model of keloid by using tissue engineering and to explore its potential clinical significance. METHOD: Fibroblasts from keloid were isolated and cultured. After being cultured to generation six or eight, fibroblasts were inoculated into scaffolds constructed from copolymers of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA), and then cultured in rotatory cell culture system for 1 week prior to subcutaneous transplantation into 20 athymic mice. After 4, 8, 16, 24 weeks, the specimens were cut out and examined histologically. RESULTS: All the mice survived after surgery. The collagen patterns of all the keloids were remained after 24 weeks. A lot of fibroblasts and their secreted collagen were observed under light microscope. Enlarged rough endoplasmic reticula inside the fibroblasts were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. The fibroblasts in specimens remained the capability of synthesizing and secreting collagen. CONCLUSIONS There is a good affinity between PLA/PGA and fibroblasts. Complex of PLA/PGA and fibroblasts could be cultured into keloids in athymic mice.