Abstract
Incisional hernias represent one of the most common complications after laparotomy. Specific pre-operative risk factors have not yet been identified. Recent studies indicate that changes in extracellular matrix components such as collagen I and collagen III may be involved in hernia development. In the present study we have evaluated the significance of fibrillin-1 in hernia development as one of the main components of the extracellular matrix. Tissue samples from non-scar skin and muscle fascia of 12 patients with incisional hernias as well as from the respective scar tissues were obtained. Corresponding tissue samples of 10 patients with normal postoperative wound healing served as controls. Distribution of fibrillin-1 was evaluated immunohistochemically. Differences in fibrillin-1 distribution in the non-scar tissues of muscle fascia have been found in patients with incisional hernia, compared to those without hernia. In scar regions of both patient groups, slight differences in the pattern of fibrillin-1 were observed. A tendency to a differential deposition of fibrillin-1 in skin samples, although hardly quantifiable, was observed as well. Our results suggest that fibrillin-1 is a relevant factor contributing to tissue stability. Disturbances in its deposition, even before scar formation, may be an important factor to the development of incisional hernias.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 674-685 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Anatomy |
Volume | 212 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Extra cellular matrix
- Fibrillin-1
- Incisional hernias
- Muscle fascia
- Scar
- Skin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Histology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology