Recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-β mediated contraction of human dermal fibroblast populated lattices is inhibited by Rho/GTPase inhibitor but does not require phosphatidylinositol-3′ kinase

Matrix reorganization and tissue contraction are essential for wound healing. However, the intracellular signals that mediate these processes are largely unknown. We investigated cytokine-induced signaling and its potential role in contraction of adult human dermal fibroblast populated collagen lattices. The results document that recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-beta individually stimulate contraction of fibroblast populated collagen lattices, while a combination of the two cytokines leads to increased contraction. Although recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB promoted collagen contraction, it failed to stimulate phosphaticylinositol-3' kinase in the human dermal fibroblasts. An inhibitor for phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase, wortmannin, had no effect on the cytokine-mediated collagen contraction. In addition, this failed activation of phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase is consistent with absence of tyrosine phosphorylation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor when the cells are in a collagen matrix. In contrast, tyrosine phosphorylation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor was readily detected in the dermal fibroblasts in monolayers. We also probed the potential role of Rho/GTPase in the cytokine-mediated contraction of fibroblast populated collagen lattices. Toxin B from Clostridium difficile at picomolar concentrations blocked both recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta induced contraction. Further, this inhibition was correlated with the inhibition of cell spreading in collagen, which suggests the formation of actin fibers inside the cells is essential for cytokine-mediated contraction of fibroblast populated collagen lattices. Taken together, these results imply that Rho/GTPase signaling but not phosphoinositol-3' kinase is involved in the cytokine-mediated contraction of fibroblasts populated collagen lattice. These findings suggest a potential mechanism for these signaling components during human wound contraction.