Objective To investigate the effect of melatonin on hypertrophic scarring.

Methods The fibroblasts from human hypertrophic scar were cultured and incubated with melatonin ( 10-5 mmol/L,10-3 mmol/L ,1mmol/L and black ) for 24h. The fibroblasts were assessed for morphology , cell proliferation with MTT assay, cell circle and apoptosis by flow cytometry. The expression of cell cyclin E, P53 and FasmRAN of fibroblasts were quantified by fluorescence quantitative PCR (SYBR Green).

Results Melatonin significantly reduced the viability and proliferation of fibroblast from human hypertrophic scar in a dose-dependent manner, and high percent of cell apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest in G1/G2 phase were observed in fibroblasts treated with melatonin. Melatonin proliferation and apoptotic action is accompanied by cell cyclin E, P53 and FasmRAN activation.

Conclusion These data indicate that melatonin may prevent hypertrophic scarring through a direct effect on fibroblast proliferation and apoptosis.