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Differential apoptosis markers in human keloids and hypertrophic scars fibroblasts

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Abstract

Keloids are benign skin tumors and are the effect of a dysregulated wound-healing process in genetically predisposed patients. They are characterized by formation of excess scar tissue beyond the boundaries of the wound. Keloids are often confused with hypertrophic scars because of an apparent lack of morphologic differences. The molecular distinction between scars and keloid is still controversial and, until today, there is no appropriate treatment yet for keloid disease. In this study, we have found, for the first time, p53 mutations in both hypertrophic scar and keloids fibroblasts from cultured cells to various extents. Since p53 plays a central role in the DNA damage response by inducing cell cycle arrest and/or apoptotic cell death, we also set up time course experiments making cell cultures at different times to investigate the phenomenon of apoptosis and its involvement in the process of pathological scarring in both hypertrophic scars and keloids. The extent of apoptosis in this study was investigated by DNA fragmentation and MTT assays, propidium iodide staining, p53 expression, and subcellular distribution. Moreover, the correlation of apoptosis and ROS levels in keloid and hypertrophic scars fibroblasts was assessed. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that determine the regulation of apoptosis during wound healing might allow us to therapeutically modulate these pathways so that apoptotic cell death is reactivated in dysregulated and hypertrophic cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Naples II, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy

    Bruna De Felice, Alessandra Santillo & Robert R. Wilson

  2. Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy

    Corrado Garbi & Margherita Santoriello

Authors
  1. Bruna De Felice
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  2. Corrado Garbi
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  3. Margherita Santoriello
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  4. Alessandra Santillo
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  5. Robert R. Wilson
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Correspondence to Bruna De Felice.

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De Felice, B., Garbi, C., Santoriello, M. et al. Differential apoptosis markers in human keloids and hypertrophic scars fibroblasts. Mol Cell Biochem 327, 191–201 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-009-0057-x

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