The effects of sialic acid on the gene expression of fibrillar collagens: different changes in normal and fibrotic scar derived fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of free sialic acid on collagen gene expression in fibroblasts.

DESIGN

Cell culture study.

SETTING

University hospital, Finland. CELL LINES: Human granulation tissue fibroblasts, human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts and human keloid fibroblasts.

INTERVENTIONS: Treatment of cell cultures with 3 microM, 30 microM and 300 microM N-acetyl-neuraminic acid.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The measurement of steady state level of mRNA for type I and type III collagen.

RESULTS

Fibroblast lines react dissimilarly under the influence of sialic acid. Granulation tissue fibroblasts showed decrease in the gene expression of type I and III collagen, while keloid fibroblasts contrastingly showed an increase. Hypertrophic scar derived fibroblasts showed no change.

CONCLUSIONS

Sialic acids may decrease collagen gene expression in granulation tissue and that disturbed wound healing in diabetics and smokers may in part be due to direct effect of sialic acids on fibroblasts. Sialic acids may in part induce keloid formation.