Comparison of Growth and Matrix Secretion in Human and Pig Dermal Fibroblasts Seeded on PGA Scaffolds

Objective To compare the possibility of human and pig dermal fibroblasts used in tendon engineering as seed cells. Methods Human and pig dermal fibroblasts were isolated from the skin by enzymation and cultured in vitro.The second passage of human and pig dermal fibroblasts were collected and seeded at a density of 1.0×10~(6) cells/mL onto cylinder-shaped polyglycolic acid(PGA)scaffolds.Changes in growth curves of the second passage cells were observed,and cell-scaffold constructs were harvested for histological and hydroxyproline(HPR) production assessment. Growth and matrix secretion of the two types of cells on PGA scaffolds were compared. Results(In the) three-dimensional PGA scaffolds,it was found that human dermal fibroblasts had better adhesion and extracellular matix secretion than pig fibroblasts,and the growth curves showed that human dermal fibroblasts had much better proliferation potential than pig cells.HE staining showed that tissue formed in human dermal fibroblasts-PGA complex on d 6 and d 12 in vitro.HPR production of human and pig dermal fibroblasts on PGA scaffolds was(2.23±(0.25)) μg/mgprot vs(1.07±0.18) μg/mgprot,and(3.72±0.39) μg/mgprot vs(0.27±0.04) μg/mgprot on d 6 and d 12,respectively,with significant statistical differences(P0.05).Positive staining of typeⅠand Ⅲ collagen could be detected by immunohistochemical staining in both types of cell-scaffolds on d12. Conclusion It is supposed that human dermal fibroblasts may be used in tendon engineering as seed cells.