Effect of adding a polysaccharide to a cultured scar tissue

What is it about?

We added a polysaccharide (chitosan) to a cultured scar tissue model, so it would more effectively resemble skin dermis. Cells present in the tissue generate tension by pulling on the collagen fibers in the tissue. When a specific growth factor (TGF-beta) is added to the model, it instructs the resident cells to become stronger in this regard (similar to "working out at the gym"). The stronger cells are called myofibroblasts. With the polysaccharide added, the cells are unable to pull on the collagen as well as they did without the polysaccharide; however, TGF-beta is still able to instruct the cells to become myofibroblasts, so the reduced contraction is due to some other factor.

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Myofibroblasts are present in normal wound healing but in pathologies like pulmonary, liver, and cardiac fibrosis, and Dupuytren's Contracture. It is important to identify ways we can control myofibroblasts in these diseases so they may not be as harmful. While chitosan did not affect myofibroblasts in our study, it might be useful to increase water retention in the tissues so chemical treatments could be administered locally and more quickly.