Growth hormone-dependent effects of human serum on the in vitro growth characteristics of human skin fibroblasts

Development of nano-liposomal human growth hormone as a topical formulation for preventing uvb-induced skin damage

Due to its involvement in skin maintenance and repair, topical administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is an interesting strategy for therapeutic purposes. We have formulated and characterized a topical rhGH-loaded liposomal formulation (rhGH-Lip) and evaluated its safety, biological activity, and preventive role against UVB-induced skin damage. The rhGH-Lip had an average size and zeta potential of 63 nm and -33 mV, respectively, with 70 % encapsulation efficiency. The formulation was stable at 4 °C for at least one year. The SDS-PAGE and circular dichroism results showed no structural alterations in rhGH upon encapsulation. In vitro, studies in HaCaT, HFFF-2, and Ba/F3-rhGHR cell lines confirmed the safety and biological activity of rhGH-Lip. Franz diffusion cell study showed increased rhGH skin permeation compared to free rhGH. Animal studies in nude mice showed that liposomal rhGH prevented UVB-induced epidermal hyperplasia, angiogenesis, wrinkle formation, and collagen loss, as well as improving skin moisture. The results of this study show that rhGH-Lip is a stable, safe, and effective skin delivery system and has potential as an anti-wrinkle formulation for topical application. This study also provides a new method for the topical delivery of proteins and merits further investigation.

Somatomedin-C and platelet-derived growth factor stimulate human fibroblast replication

Previous studies have demonstrated that serum contains mitogens, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which may alter fibroblast responsiveness to growth factors contained in plasma. Somatomedin-C (SM-C) has been identified as one of the plasma growth factors required for mouse Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts to initiate DNA synthesis. The present experiments were undertaken to explore the interaction between PDGF, human growth hormone (hGH), SM-C, and other growth-promoting agents in stimulating the growth of human fibroblasts. Proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts plated at low density (3,000 cells/cm2) was found to be equally stimulated by continuous exposure to either normal or somatomedin-C-deficient serum. In contrast, when confluent monolayers were sequentially exposed to PDGF, followed either by normal platelet poor plasma (PPP) or hypopituitary PPP, the cells exposed to normal PPP entered the "S" phase of the cell cycle 50% faster. This difference could be abolished by a 6-hour incubation with growth hormone (10 ng/ml) or somatomedin-C (5 ng/ml) preceding the addition of plasma. When medium containing either hGH or Sm-C was changed frequently so as to remove factors secreted by fibroblasts only those cells exposed to exogeneous somatomedin-C entered DNA synthesis. This finding is in agreement with previous findings that human fibroblasts are capable of making Sm-C in response to hGH. These findings support the hypothesis that somatomedin is required for fibroblast replication in vitro, and that growth hormone appears to stimulate replication indirectly through somatomedin production.

Dermal changes in osteoporosis following prolonged treatment with human growth hormone

Five patients with osteoporosis were treated with human growth hormone (hGH) for a year and the changes in their skin were studied by light and electron microscopy. The abnormally thin skin of osteoporosis appeared to change towards normal after treatment with hGH. There was a consistent proliferation of blood vessels, and increased number of mast cells and fibrocytes. The collagen bundles and elastic tissue fibers appeared hyperplastic and more horizontally oriented. The fine, vertical elastic fibrils of the papillary dermis had appeared decreased before treatment, but seemed to be restored to their normal configuration after treatment. Since there was no evidence of stimulation of hair, sebum, or melanin such as occurs in acromegaly, it is suggested that the scope of the direct action of hGH on the skin is limited to mesenchymal structures.