The human skin contains several different fibroblast subtypes including dermal sheath (DS),
dermal papilla (DP) and inter-follicular dermis cells (DF). It has been shown that quicker
healing and less scar formation is related toproportionally fewer numbers of DS and DP
fibroblasts. TGF-β plays a crucial role in wound healingby attracting fibroblasts and
promoting their synthesis of collagens I, III, and V, proteoglycans, fibronectin and other extra
cellular matrix (ECM) components; and that the POMC peptides α-MSH/ ACTH may
ameliorate hypertrophic scaring by antagonizing TGF-β. The aim of this project was to assess
the role of POMC peptides α-MSH/ ACTH in modulating migratory activity of fibroblasts in
vitro using scratch assay with or without POMC peptides and the transwell assay in the
presence of the extracellular protein fibronectin. Transwell assay showed that fibronectin
increased fibroblast sub-types migration with DS cells migrated through fibronectintranswells
more effectively than other fibroblast sub-types. POMC peptides, ACTH induced the greatest
increase in migration with fibronectin coated wells. In addition, scratch assay showed that the
fibroblast migration was significant in the presence of the POMC peptides.

download pdf button 11