SnoN residue (1–366) attenuates hypertrophic scars through resistance to transforming growth factor-β1-induced degradation

Abstract

Hypertrophic scars (HSs) are characterized by fibroblast hyperproliferation and excessive matrix deposition. During wound healing, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad signaling acts as a key regulator. As a transcriptional corepressor of TGF-β1/Smads, SnoN is expressed at low levels in many fibrotic diseases due to TGF-β1/Smad-induced degradation. SnoN residue (1–366; SR) is resistant to TGF-β1-induced degradation. However, the expression and role of SR in HSs are unknown. Here, we inhibited TGF-β1/Smad signaling via overexpression of SR to block fibroblast transdifferentiation, proliferation, and collagen deposition during HS formation. Our results showed that SnoN was downregulated in HS fibroblasts (HSFs) owing to TGF-β1/Smad-induced degradation. Overexpression of SR in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and HSFs successfully blocked phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3, thereby inhibiting NHDF transdifferentiation and HSF proliferation and reducing type I collagen (ColI) and type III collagen (ColIII) production and secretion. In addition, we applied overexpressed full-length SnoN (SF) and SR to wound granulation tissue in a rabbit model of HSs. SR reduced wound scarring, improved collagen deposition and arrangement of scar tissue, and decreased mRNA and protein expression of ColI, ColIII, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) more effectively than SF in vivo. These results suggest that SR could be a promising therapy for the prevention of HS.