The Comparison of Normoxic and Hypoxic Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regulating Platelet-derived Growth Factors and Collagen Serial Levels in Skin Excision Animal Models

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The healing process of a skin excisions involves a complex cascade of cellular responses to reverse skin integrity formation. These processes require growth factors particularly platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF). On the other hand, hypoxia- preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could secrete growth factors that notably contribute to wound healing acceleration, characterized by the enhancement of collagen density. AIM: This study was aimed to investigate the role of hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs in regulating the serial levels of PDGF associated with the enhancement of collagen density in the skin excision animal models. METHODS: Twenty-seven male Wistar rats of skin excision were created as animal models. The animals were randomly assigned into four groups consisting of two treatment groups (treated by normoxia-preconditioned MSCs as T1 and hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs as T2), positive control (treated with phosphate-buffered saline) and sham (non-treated and healthy rats). PDGF levels were examined by ELISA. The collagen density was determined using Masson‘s trichrome staining. RESULTS: This study showed that there was a significant increase in PDGF levels on days 3 and 6 after hypoxia- preconditioned MSCs treatment. In line with these findings, the collagen density was also increased significantly after hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs treatment on days 3, 6, and 9. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia-preconditioned MSCs could regulate the serial PDGF levels that lead to the enhancement of collagen density in the skin excision rat’s model.