Comparative effects of four surfactants on growth, contraction and adhesion of cultured human fibroblasts.

A range of surfactants, including the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate, the cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and the non-ionics octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol (Triton X100) and polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monoleate (Tween 80) was studied for effects on proliferation, contractibility and attachment of cultured human fibroblasts. Only ionic surfactants exhibited a stimulatory effect on fibroblast proliferation, whereas all the surfactants tested increased the contraction of collagen gels containing fibroblasts, with the greatest effect from the non-ionic surfactants. This activity was not correlated with an increase of cell population or cell attachment within the collagenous matrix. The activity of the surfactants was seen only at levels close to their LD50 values and in a narrow range of concentrations. Thus, we consider that they are the result of the so-called hormesis phenomenon.