Effects of Oxygen Manipulation on Myofibroblast Phenotypic Transformation in Patients With Radiation-Induced Fibrosis.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

We tested if hyperoxic conditions can reduce the proportion of active myofibroblasts, which are assumed to be a major driver of head and neck radiation-induced fibrosis, as measured by expression levels of pro-fibrotic genes. Radiated, non-cancerous soft tissue from the head and neck and skin/soft tissue from non-radiated flap donor site were collected from each patient. Myofibroblast density was quantified using immunofluorescence staining with α-SMA and DAPI and visualisation under confocal microscopy and compared between baseline non-radiated and radiated tissue from the same patient. From each tissue specimen, fibroblast cell lines were cultured and exposed to either normoxic, hypoxic, or hyperoxic conditions for 10 days. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed, and gene expression levels were quantified using RT-PCR. Relative gene expression levels of pro-fibrotic genes COL1A1, COL3A1, FN-EDA, α-SMA, HIF-1α, VEGFα, and VEGFR were compared between normoxic, hypoxic, and hyperoxic treatment groups. Three patients with six total tissue samples were acquired. Radiated tissue contained a higher density of myofibroblasts (calculated as cells/mm

Volume

33

Issue

4

First Page

70075

Last Page

70075

ISSN

1524-475X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

40824267

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS