Human adipose-derived stem cells inhibit bioactivity of keloid fibroblasts

Background: A keloid is a fibroproliferative disorder occurring in wounds characterized by an exaggerated response to injury. To date, no effective cure has been identified. As multipotent stem cells, human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) may show the possibility for curing diseases such as fibrosis. This study sought to explore the potential role of human ADSCs in curing keloids. Methods: After culture in conditioned medium, gene and protein expression of keloid fibroblasts was examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, while analysis of the cell cycle was used to measure the proliferative properties of the cells. Furthermore, ex vivo explant cultures were used to test the effects of ADSC-conditioned medium (ADSC-CM) on CD31(+) and CD34(+) expression in keloid tissue. Results: Our experimental results show that ADSC-CM was able to attenuate extracellular matrix-related gene expression as well as decrease protein expression. Cell proliferation was significantly suppressed in our study. CD31(+) and CD34(+) vessels in ex vivo explants were reduced by 55% and 57% in treatment groups compared with control groups. Conclusions: Human ADSC-CM significantly inhibited keloid fibroblast-related bioactivities.