Hyperosmolar Potassium Inhibits Myofibroblast Conversion and Reduces Scar Tissue Formation

Abstract

Scar formation is a natural result of almost all wound healing in adult mammals. Unfortunately, scarring disrupts normal tissue function and can cause significant physical and psychological distress. In addition to improving surgical techniques to limit scar formation, several therapies are under development toward the same goal. Many of these treatments aim to disrupt transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) signaling, as this is a critical control point for fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts; a contractile cell that organizes synthesized collagen fibrils into scar tissue. The present study aimed to examine the role of hyperosmolar potassium gluconate (KGluc) on fibroblast function in skin repair. KGluc was first determined to negatively regulate fibroblast proliferation, metabolism, and migration in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Increasing concentrations of KGluc also inhibited differentiation into myofibroblasts, suggesting that local KGluc treatment might reduce fibrosis. KGluc delivery was confirmed via loading into collagen hydrogels and used to treat a full thickness skin wound in mice. KGluc qualitatively slowed initial closure of the wounds and resulted in tissue that more closely resembled mature, healthy skin (epidermal thickness and dermal-epidermal morphology) when compared to unloaded collagen hydrogels. KGluc treatment significantly reduced the number of myofibroblasts within the dermis while upregulated blood vessel density with respect to unloaded hydrogels, likely a result of disruption of TGFβ1 signaling. Taken together, these data demonstrate the effectiveness of KGluc treatment on skin wound healing and suggest that this may be an efficient treatment to limit scar formation.

Experimental Study on Blue Light Interaction with Human Keloid-Derived Fibroblasts

“…Furthermore, these signals are co-localized with the total cell nuclei, demonstrating the presence of fibroblasts cells in the cultures obtained from keloids tissues (Figure 2F,L) and from perilesional tissues (Figure 3F,L). Moreover, it is known that myofibroblasts are typically found in fibrotic skin tissues such as keloids [29,30]. Thus, we evaluated the presence of myofibroblasts, revealed by the anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) antibody, in cell cultures isolated from keloid tissue or perilesional tissue.…”

Precisely Tuning the Pore-Wall Surface Composition of Bioceramic Scaffolds Facilitates Angiogenesis and Orbital Bone Defect Repair

“…The BG coating produced an appreciable K, Sr, and B release due to the BG coating dissolution. These inorganic ions have been reported to readily facilitate the accessibility of new vessels for bone formation − and within an accepted dosage level (K, 0–320 mmol/L; Sr, 0.1–24 mmol/L; B, 0–1000 ng/mL). It was also worth mentioning that the Biogel modification influenced the mass decrease in the first week, probably attributing to the more dissolution of the Biogel.…”

“…In this aspect, the CSi-Mg10/BG also exhibited the most intensive angiogenesis cycles and the longest duration. It is evident that the vasogenic and osteogenic effects of CSi-Mg10/BG might be related to the release of high concentrations of K, Sr, and B ions. , Therefore, the finely tuned surface modification can also induce new vessel growth. The physicochemical properties of the scaffold surface are considered another important factor on the biocompatibility of biomaterials .…”

Correlation between Elemental Composition/Mobility and Skin Cell Proliferation of Fibrous Nanoclay/Spring Water Hydrogels

“…Additionally, Ca is the second most abundant element in ALI. It has been reported that low concentrations of extracellular potassium may accelerate and favor fibroblast differentiation, thus forming scar tissue [ 43 ]. Low intracellular K + concentrations favor interleukin-8 expression, which plays an important role in stimulating re-epithelialization, migration and proliferation of dermal cells during wound healing [ 26 ].…”