Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the human dermis through ontogenesis

Abstract

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was examined in the structures of dermis of humans with different ages, from 20 weeks of pregnancy to 85 years. By immunohistochemistry, the fibroblasts and blood vessels positively stained for CTGF were observed in the dermis of all examined ages. An age-dependent increase in the percent of the fibroblasts and blood vessels positively stained for CTGF in the dermis was observed. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the age-dependent changes in the total number of fibroblasts, percent of the fibroblasts with positive staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and portion of the fibroblasts with positive staining for CTGF. Another statistically significant negative correlation was found between the age-dependent changes in the number of blood vessels and portion of the blood vessels with a positive staining for CTGF. The results suggest that CTGF has an inhibitory influence on the angiogenesis and fibroblast renewal in the human dermis through ontogenesis.