Rapid closure of midgestational excisional wounds in a fetal mouse model is associated with altered transforming growth factor-β isoform and receptor expression

BackgroundMany pediatric diseases are characterized by excessive tissue contraction. Because of a poor understanding of contraction, few therapies exist. We developed a murine fetal excisional wound model of contraction and theorize that wound closure is associated with changes in transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression.MethodsPregnant FVB mice underwent hysterotomy at midgestational (E15) or late-gestational (E18) ages. Three-millimeter excisional wounds were made in fetuses and harvested at 32 hours. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, TβR-1, and TβR-2 in wounds and normal skin and normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Data were analyzed by paired t test (P < .05). H&E staining of wounds was performed.ResultsE15 wounds (80.5% ± 4.4%) were smaller than E18 wounds (10.4% ± 10.5%; P < .001) at 32 hours. E15 wounds expressed higher levels of TGF-β1 compared with normal skin (P = .001). TβR-2 levels were elevated in E15 and E18 wounds compared with their respective normal skin (P = .02, P = .01) and in E18 normal skin compared with E15 normal skin (P = .002).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that rapid midgestational wound closure in a murine model is associated with increased TGF-β1 and TβR-2 expression. Elucidating the role of the TGF-β pathways may lead to an improved understanding of wound contraction.