Rapid closure of midgestational excisional wounds in a fetal mouse model is associated with altered transforming growth factor-β isoform and receptor expression

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in healthy human fetal skin: A descriptive study

“…In this study the differential gene expression for the TGF-β isoforms in fetal skin was confirmed with low mRNA expression for TGF-β1 and high expression for TGF-β2 and -β3 (table 2) [8,10,11]. In line with observations of Chen et al [8], strong IHC staining for TGF-β1 was observed in the adult epidermis and dermis while positive staining was mainly observed in the fetal epidermis and the staining in fetal dermis was weak.…”

“…The only data available on this intracellular Smad-signaling are from in vitro studies in fibroblasts [9][10][11][12]. Therefore, only scarce information exists on the presence and function of most of the components of the canonical pathway in human fetal skin.…”

Differential use of Erk1/2 and transforming growth factor β pathways by mid- and late-gestational murine fibroblasts

“…The animal model was used as previously described in Goldberg et al [1]. Briefly, after institutional review board approval, timed-dated, pregnant, FVB mice (Charles River, Wilmington, ME) at embryonic days 15 and 18 (E15 and E18, representing mid-and late-gestational animals) were sedated and anesthetic levels monitored by respiratory rate and foot pinch response.…”

“…In this model, TGF-β1 transcripts were elevated in the mid-gestational wounds compared with normal skin; type 2 TGF-β receptor (TβR-2) transcripts were elevated in both mid-and late-gestational wounds compared with normal skin [1]. This suggests that TGF-β may indeed play a role in both scarless and scar-forming wounds perhaps by differentially using the canonical Smad cell-signaling pathway as well as other signaling mediators such as the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases.…”

“…To further study the role of TGF-β, we developed a model of excisional wound healing in the fetal mouse and demonstrated that mid-gestational wounds closed rapidly in a grossly scarless fashion compared with late-gestational wounds, which showed minimal signs of closure at 32 hours [1]. In this model, TGF-β1 transcripts were elevated in the mid-gestational wounds compared with normal skin; type 2 TGF-β receptor (TβR-2) transcripts were elevated in both mid-and late-gestational wounds compared with normal skin [1].…”