Objective: To explore the regulative effects and significance of neuropeptide substance P (SP) on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) of granulation tissue fibroblasts in vitro.
Methods: A local aseptic inflammation was induced by injection of formaldehyde in rats, and its granulation tissue was cultured. RT-PCR was employed to observe expression of bFGF mRNA after inducement of SP at different concentrations and time points in the granulation tissue, and western blot to assay expression of bFGF protein.
Results: The expression of bFGF mRNA was markedly increased significantly 3 and 6 hours after inducement with SP in 10(-7) mol/L, compared with control group (P < 0.01). The expression of bFGF protein was markedly higher than the control group after 12 hours, and it reached the peak at the 24th hour and declined gradually after 48 hours. SP at concentrations of 10(-9) - 10(-5) mol/L could significantly promote the expression of bFGF mRNA, and that at 10(-8) - 10(-5) mol/L induce the expression of bFGF protein. Both expressions reached the peak when SP concentration was 10(-7) mol/L (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: SP can induce the expressions of bFGF mRNA and bFGF protein of granulation tissue fibroblasts in vitro, which may possess an important significance in wound healing.