[Effect of tranilast, an anti-allergic drug, on the human keloid tissues]

We studied the inhibitory effects of tranilast, an anti-allergic drug, on the human keloid tissues implanted into the dorsal skin of athymic nude mice and on the growth of keloid fibroblast in vitro. In the keloid tissue-implanted model, tranilast (50-200 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased the weight of the keloid tissue as triamcinolone (25 mg/kg, p.o.) did. Tranilast (200 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the hydroxyproline content of implanted tissues. Tranilast (3-300 microM) also inhibited the collagen synthesis by keloid fibroblast in vitro. Only a high concentration of tranilast (300 microM) suppressed the glycosaminoglycan synthesis and cell proliferation of keloid fibroblasts. Moreover, tranilast scarcely affected the fibronectin production. Triamcinolone (10 microM) also inhibited glycosaminoglycan synthesis and cell proliferation. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of tranilast on the keloid tissues is related to its inhibition of the collagen synthesis of fibroblasts. Tranilast would be useful as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of keloids.