Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies regarding matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathways in pathological scars are mainly focused on in vitro culture of fibroblasts; however, the correlation studies are rare on tissue of operation.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the expressions of MMP-13 and TGF-β1 in keloid and hypertrophic scars.
METHODS: Experimental samples were obtained from the patients, who underwent burn and plastic surgery at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Workers’ Hospital of Tangshan, from June 2004 to June 2008, including 54 patients with keloid, and 42 patients with hypertrophic scars. Normal scar from additional 45 cases were served as control group, normal skins from additional 40 cases were served as normal controls. The expressions of MMP-13 and TGF-β1 protein in keloid, hypertrophic scars, normal scar and normal skin were examined by flow cytometry.
RESULTS: The expression of TGF-β1 was obviously greater in the experimental group (keloid and hypertrophic scars) than the control group (normal scar and normal skin) (P < 0.05). The expression of MMP-13 was obviously lower in the experimental group (keloid and hypertrophic scars) than the control group (normal scar and normal skin) (P < 0.05), but the difference between keloid and hypertrophic scars had no significance (P > 0.05). There was a negative correlation between MMP-13 and TGF-β1 in keloid, hypertrophic scars and normal scars (r=0.47, r=0.43, r=0.45; P < 0.05). No notable correlation was found between MMP-13 and TGF-β1 in normal skins (P > 0.05). It is indicated that the expressions of MMP-13 and TGF-β1 are changed, and the synergism of MMP-13 and TGF-β1 may promote the development in pathological scars.