| Sumario: | Dermal fibrosis, or scarring, following surgical incisions, traumatic wounds and burns presents a major clinical burden. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 is a major factor known to stimulate fibroblast proliferation, collagen production, and the differentiation of fibroblast to myofibroblast promoting wound contraction. Furthermore, excessive or prolonged TGF-ß1 has been shown to be associated with scarring. Green tea contains high amounts of polyphenols with the major polyphenolic compound being epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and may improve wound healing and scarring, though its precise effect on TGF-ß1 remains unclear. This study aimed at determining the effect of EGCG on TGF-ß1 collagen contraction, gene expression and the differentiation of fibroblast to myofibroblast. EGCG appears to affect the role that TGF-ß1 plays in fibroblast populated collagen gel contraction and this seems to be through bothmyofibroblast differentiation and connective tissue growth factor gene expression and reduces the expression of collagen type I gene regulation.
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