Effects of inhibitory substance P and anti-basic fibroblast growth factor antibody on hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts

Objective The present study was done to observe the effects of inhibitory substance P (capsaicin) and anti-basic fibroblast growth factor antibody on the fibroblasts derived from patients with hypertrophic scars, and explore their potential application in treatment of hypertrophic scar. Methods Hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts from 12 patients were harvested and cultured in vitro. After the cells were treated with different concentration of capsaicin and bFGF antibodies for 24 hours, the cellular morphology and proliferation were measured by microscope or MTT method, respectively. Results The cultured fibroblasts were shrinked by capsaicin (5, 20, 40, 60, 80mg/L) or anti-bFGF antibody (40, 80mg/L). Moreover, capsaicin at 5, 20, 40, 60, 80mg/L or anti-bFGF antibody at 40, 80mg/L significantly inhibit the proliferation of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Capsaicin at a dose 2.5mg/L or anti-bFGF antibody at a dose 20mg/L did not significantly inhibited cell proliferation (P0.05), whereas co-administration of Capsaicin and anti-bFGF antibody at these doses significantly increase inhibitory effect on cell proliferation (P0.05). Conclusion The proliferative activity of hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts could be inhibited by capsaicin or /and bFGF antibodies, in a dose - dependent manner. Coadministration of Capsaicin and anti-bFGF antibodies might be potential for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars.