Effects of TGF-beta and TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody on normal skin fibroblasts and scar-derived fibroblasts

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is known as an important cytokine for scar formation in wound healing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TGF-beta and its neutralizing antibody on normal skin fibroblasts and scar-derived fibroblasts in culture. Endogenous TGF-beta levels were similar in all fibroblasts. Cell proliferation increased when TGF-beta 1 or beta 2 was added to the cultures, and the increase was higher and started at a lower level in the scar-derived fibroblasts (p < 0.05). The increase of fibroblasts was suppressed by the addition of TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody to the cultures, and the suppression rate was higher in the scar-derived cells (p < 0.05). Percentages of the cells in the growth phases of cell cycle decreased in the normal skin fibroblasts (p < 0.05) when TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody was added. Our findings showed that scar-derived fibroblasts and normal skin fibroblasts have a different sensitivity to TGF-beta. Further study is needed on the effect of the neutralizing antibody to the cell counts and cell cycle of scar-derived fibroblasts.