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Contractile forces generated by striae distensae fibroblasts embedded in collagen lattices

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Abstract

Striae distensae are characterized by linear, smooth bands of atrophic-appearing skin that are reddish at first and finally white. They are due to stretching of the skin, as in rapid weight gain, or mechanical stress, as in weight lifting. The pathogenesis of striae distensae is unknown but probably relates to changes in the fibroblast phenotype. In order to characterize striae distensae fibroblasts, alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and contractile forces were studied. Five healthy women with early erythematous striae and five healthy women with older striae were selected. Paired biopsies were taken from the center of lesional striae and adjacent normal skin. Fibroblasts were obtained by an explant technique and expanded in vitro in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle‘s medium. Contractile forces generated by fibroblasts in collagen lattices were measured with the Glasbox device developed in our laboratory. Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression was studied by immunofluorescence labeling of cells and by flow cytometry. Fibroblasts from early striae distensae were the richest cells in alpha-smooth muscle actin filaments and generated the highest contractile forces. Their peak contractile force was 26% greater than normal fibroblasts. There was a 150% higher level of alpha-smooth muscle actin content in fibroblasts from early striae distensae compared with fibroblasts from normal skin. In contrast, there was no significant difference in force generation between old striae fibroblasts and normal fibroblasts with cells expressing no alpha-smooth muscle actin. The contractile properties of fibroblasts from striae distensae varies depending on the stage of the disease. In early striae distensae, fibroblasts acquire a more contractile phenotype, corresponding to that of myofibroblasts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering and Cutaneous Biology Laboratory, IFR 133, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, 25000, Besançon, France

    Céline Viennet, Jacqueline Bride, Anne-Claude Gabiot & Philippe Humbert

  2. Optical Laboratory, School of Science, 25000, Besançon, France

    Vincent Armbruster & Tijani Gharbi

  3. Department of Dermatology, Engineering and Cutaneous Biology Laboratory, St Jacques Hospital, 2 pl St Jacques, 25030, Besançon, France

    François Aubin & Philippe Humbert

Authors
  1. Céline Viennet
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  2. Jacqueline Bride
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  3. Vincent Armbruster
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  4. François Aubin
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  5. Anne-Claude Gabiot
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  6. Tijani Gharbi
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  7. Philippe Humbert
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Correspondence to Philippe Humbert.

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Viennet, C., Bride, J., Armbruster, V. et al. Contractile forces generated by striae distensae fibroblasts embedded in collagen lattices. Arch Dermatol Res 297, 10–17 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-005-0557-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-005-0557-9

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