Ketanserin in Wound Healing and Fibrosis: Investigations into its Mechanism of Action

Ketanserin, an 5-HT2 receptor blocker, has a paradoxical effect in wound healing. It stimulates wound closure but inhibits hypertrophic scar formation. The drug stimulates proliferation and collagen synthesis of dermal fibroblasts but inhibits the 5-HT-induced DNA synthesis and retraction in myofibroblasts. Ketanserin is also bifunctional regulator of collagen synthesis in a sponge granuloma model. It increases the collagen content at day 4 but it lowers the collagen concentration in 14 day old granulomas. It is speculated that this differential response is due to a switch in serotonin receptor-type.