β2-adrenoceptor activation modulates skin wound healing processes to reduce scarring

J Invest Dermatol. 2015 Jan;135(1):279-88. doi: 10.1038/jid.2014.312. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Abstract

During wound healing, excessive inflammation, angiogenesis, and differentiated human dermal fibroblast (HDF ) function contribute to scarring, whereas hyperpigmentation negatively affects scar quality. Over 100 million patients heal with a scar every year. To investigate the role of the beta 2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) in wound scarring, the ability of beta 2 adrenergic receptor agonist (β2ARag) to alter HDF differentiation and function, wound inflammation, angiogenesis, and wound scarring was explored in HDFs, zebrafish, chick chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM), and a porcine skin wound model, respectively. Here we identify a β2AR-mediated mechanism for scar reduction. β2ARag significantly reduced HDF differentiation, via multiple cAMP and/or fibroblast growth factor 2 or basic FGF (FGF2)-dependent mechanisms, in the presence of transforming growth factor betaβ1, reduced contractile function, and inhibited mRNA expression of a number of profibrotic markers. β2ARag also reduced inflammation and angiogenesis in zebrafish and CAMs in vivo, respectively. In Red Duroc pig full-thickness wounds, β2ARag reduced both scar area and hyperpigmentation by almost 50% and significantly improved scar quality. Indeed, mechanisms delineated in vitro and in other in vivo models were evident in the β2ARag-treated porcine scars in vivo. Both macrophage infiltration and angiogenesis were initially decreased, whereas DF function was impaired in the β2ARag-treated porcine wound bed. These data collectively reveal the potential of β2ARag to improve skin scarring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / metabolism
  • Cicatrix / physiopathology*
  • Dermis / cytology
  • Dermis / injuries
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesions / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesions / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism*
  • Sus scrofa
  • Wound Healing / physiology*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • ADRB2 protein, human
  • ADRB2 protein, zebrafish
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2