Ellagic acid exerts anti-fibrotic effects on hypertrophic scar fibroblasts via inhibition of TGF-?1/Smad2/3 pathway

Abstract Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a kind of serious pathological with no currently effective treatment. HS fibroblasts (HSFs) are the main effector cells for formation. Ellagic acid (EA) exerts regulatory effects in some diseases, but its role remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate effect EA on fibrotic phenotypes HSFs and further investigate downstream signaling mechanism. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used perform cytotoxicity proliferation assays. migration assessed using wound healing transwell contraction measured by collagen lattice detection ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) expression. levels mRNA protein were determined qPCR western blotting, respectively. results showed that inhibited proliferation, migration, expression dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, not only suppressed Smad2/3 pathway also reversed TGF-?1-induced activation up-regulation cellular HSFs. These findings demonstrate anti-fibrotic blocking TGF-?1/Smad2/3 pathway, which indicates potential therapeutic candidate treatment HS.