Glycosaminoglycan Content in the Media of Cultured Dermal Fibroblasts Derived from Burn Scar and Normal Skin

Abstract
The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of the extracellular matrix of burn scar in humans has been reported to differ from that of normal skin (1, 2). In order to investigate whether the GAG content altered as a result of functional changes in fibroblasts, the GAG content was determined in culture media of fibroblasts derived from growing burn scar, mature scar, and normal skin tissue. No statistical differences were observed in the population doubling‐times of scar and normal skin. Mature scar showed significantly higher values for all the concentrations of uronic acid, hexosamine, and sulfate measured in the glycosaminoglycan, as compared with normal skin values, and the concentrations from growing scar were slightly higher than those for normal skin. The above results may suggest an increase in glycosaminoglycan sulfate synthesis following the hyperplasia of the matrix in burn scar tissue.