Transforming growth factor beta-1 decreases interstitial collagenase in healing human fetal skin

Fetal dermal wounds heal without scarring. Because wound repair requires extracellular matrix turnover, the authors hypothesized that fetal skin would have increased levels of proteinases responsible for matrix degradation compared with adult skin. It was further hypothesized that transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) induces scarring in fetal skin by altering proteinase synthesis. A model of human fetal skin transplanted subcutaneously...