Effects of hydrocortisone on proliferation and collagen synthesis of skin fibroblasts in vitro

AIM: To study the effects of hydrocortisone on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of skin fibroblasts in vitro and to explore the mechanism of steroid in the treatment of abnormal scars. METHODS: Human scar fibroblasts were isolated and cultured from human skin by mechanical separation methods. After being stimulated by hydrocortisone with different concentration, the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human skin fibroblasts were determined by MTT methods and 3H-Proline incorporation respectively. RESULTS: Hydrocortisone (0.1 g/L) inhibited the proliferation (MTT 0.523±0.051 vs 0.347±0.036, P0.05) and collagen synthesis [ 3H-Proline (248±6) Bq vs (181±6) Bq, P0.05] of human skin fibroblasts in vitro in a concentration dependence manner (r=-0.8208). CONCLUSION: Hydrocortisone may treat abnormal scars by inhibiting the proliferation and collagen synthesis of human skin fibroblasts.