Effect of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor on expression of vascular endotllelial growth factor in human dermal fibroblasts

Abstract

Objective To study the effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the expression of vascular endotllelial growth factor (VEGF) in human dermal fibroblast. Methods In vitro human dermal fibroblasts in good status were incubated with GM-CSF (GM-CSF group) or non-GM-CSF (control group) culture medium for different periods of time. The mRNA, protein expression of VEGF in derma fibroblast were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively, and the secretion of VEGF in supernatant was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Results The expression of VEGF mRNA from dermal fibroblasts was increased significantly after l or more hours of incubation with GM-CSF comparing with the control (P＜0.05). 6 hours of stimulation by GM-CSF caused maximal expression of VEGF mRNA. The expression of VEGF protein in dermal fibroblasts was increased from 12 hours and was peaked at 24 hour after stimulation by GM-CSF. VEGF protein from the supernatant of the dermal fibroblasts was also raised persistently from 12 hour after stimulation by GM-CSF and was improved remarkably compared with the control. Conclusions GM-CSF can up-regulate directly the expression of VEGF in human derma fibroblast, which may be one of the mechanisms that GM-CSF accelerates neovascularization in wound healing. Key words: Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF); Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); Wound healing; Fibroblasts