Somatomedins: do they play a pivotal role in wound healing?

Somatomedin-C is present in human and other animal wound fluids. Somatomedin-C has previously been shown to be synthesized by fibroblasts. Our data shows that at least part of the wound fluid somatomedin-C comes from local wound synthesis. This somatomedin-C has the capability of acting as an autocrine in further stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts. In addition, somatomedin-C has been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. Wound fluid also contains a somatomedin carrier protein; however, our evidence is that association between the carrier protein and somatomedin-C is much weaker than normal and, thus, wound fluid somatomedin that is bound to carrier protein is much more "available" for biologic action. An understanding of the role of somatomedins in normal wound healing might be able to help us understand abnormalities of the repair process such as keloid formation.