Production of growth factors by fibroblasts in the conditions of the wound process and under the exposure of a bacterial biofilm matrix

Abstract

Aim to analyze the production of growth factors by fibroblasts in the wound process and under the influence of the bacterial biofilm matrix. Material and methods. We assessed the levels of such growth factors as: VEGF, TGF-1, GM-CSF, FGF produced by granulation tissue fibroblasts of acute wound (AW) (group 1, n=9) and chronic wound (CW) (group 2, n=17). Skin fibroblasts (n=5) were used for reference. The primary cultures were obtained by the method of explants. The experimental biofilm matrix included S. aureus, E. faecalis, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis (5 of each species). Results. The elevated levels of TGF-1 and VEGF, secreted by the primary cultures of fibroblasts, against of the absence of changes in the values of FGF and GM-CSF, are the criteria for the imbalance of growth factors characteristic of CW. The impact of the biofilm matrix P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. mirabilis on skin fibroblasts was accompanied by an increase in the production of VEGF and GM-CSF and a decrease in the synthesis of TGF-1 and FGF. In the experiments with S. aureus and E. faecalis, a similar direction of changes was recorded, but the degree of its severity was lower than for experiments with the gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion. The obtained results have demonstrated various effects of the biofilm matrix on the production of growth factors by fibroblasts and updated the information on the pathogenesis of CW formation. The revealed imbalance in the synthesis of growth factors by fibroblasts in the granulation tissue of wounds with borderline lifetimes (2228 days) determines the need for tactical approaches in the treatment of CW.