Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

0 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic atlas of pathological scars uncovers neuro-fibroblast crosstalk mechanisms across scar types

ABSTRACT: Pathological scars, including hypertrophic scars and keloids, arise from excessive production and deposition of connective tissue such as collagen during wound healing, posing significant clinical challenges. Understanding the cellular and molecular dynamics underlying these scars is critical for developing effective therapies. Here, we integrate single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to characterize the cellular heterogeneity and molecular signatures of key scar-associated cell types, including pericytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Notably, we identify ECM-activated fibroblasts as a prominent subtype associated with pathological scarring. Cell-cell communication analysis reveals significantly enhanced interactions between fibroblasts and neural cells in pathological scars, especially in hypertrophic scars—a finding that aligns with clinical features such as fibrosis and pruritus. Moreover, we identify subtype-specific ligand-receptor pairs, including LAMB2–ITGA6 in hypertrophic scar and NLGN2–NRXN1 in keloid, mediating these fibroblast–neural communications. To support future research, we developed CellCellMarker 3.0, an updated and curated database integrating experimentally validated and transcriptomics-derived scar marker genes, along with ScarGPT, an intelligent Q&A system optimized using the DeepSeek R1 large language model, integrated with CellCellMarker data and a large corpus of scar-related publications.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE307504 | GEO | 2025/09/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
		Other

Items per page:

1 - 1 of 1

Similar Datasets

The Role of the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin in Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars

Project description:We hypothesize that, the mTOR pathway is a dominant pathway in cultured keloid and hypertrophy scar fibriblasts compared to normal skin cells. Certain pathway changes can be detected after medication treatment. Global gene expression in RNA samples from rapamycin and tacrolimus treated fibroblasts (from normal skin and hypertrophic scars, keloid scars) is assayed to study the possibility to use mTOR inhibitors as potential drug to treat abnormal scarring. We investigated the difference between normal wound healing and hypertrophic scars and keloids as well.

2014-05-20 | E-MTAB-2509 | biostudies-arrayexpress

Extracellular matrix analysis of human keloid scars

Project description:Fibrosis is vaguely described as connective tissue deposition that can be excessive in pathological conditions. This suggests a quantitative spectrum of fibrosis wherein there can be more or less extracellular matrix (ECM), which in the context of a repairing skin wound could reflect the range from normal scar to keloid. This depiction, however, does not encompass the potential qualitative differences between normal and pathological scars. In keloids, the markedly different physical (hard and dense) and histological (hyalinization) characteristics compared to normal scars indicate an altered and inappropriate matrix, rather than simply too much. With this quantitative discovery-based proteomics we provide a thorough molecular description of keloid lesions relative to normal scars, which is an essential step towards our understanding of this problem.

2019-12-03 | PXD015057 | Pride

Quantitative proteomic analysis of keloid scars and normal skin tissues

Project description:Keloid scars is a pathologic fibro-proliferative disorders of the skin, which exhibit abnormal phenotypes including fibroblasts proliferation and collagen deposits. There have been several treatments of keloids including conventional surgical therapies and adjuvant therapies, but a high recurrence rate of keloids was also observed after treatment. Quantitative proteomics approach has been proved an efficient approach to investigate pathological mechanism and novel biomarkers. In this study, we present a label-free quantitative proteomics analysis to explore differential protein expression profiles in normal skin and keloid scar tissues based on nano-liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (Nano-LC–MS/MS). The study results displayed a more comprehensive keloid protein expression landscape and provided novel pathological insight of keloid.

2023-03-11 | PXD029631 | Pride

Single cell sequencing identifies serine proteases as regulators of myofibroblast differentiation

Project description:Despite recent advances in understanding skin scarring, mechanisms triggering hypertrophic scar formation are still poorly understood. In the present study we performed single-cell sequencing of mature human hypertrophic scars and developing scars in mice. Compared to normal skin, we found significant differences in gene expression in most cell types present in scar tissue. Fibroblasts (FBs) showed the most prominent alterations in gene expression, displaying a distinct fibrotic signature. By comparing genes upregulated in murine FBs during scar development with genes highly expressed in mature human hypertrophic scars, we identified a group of serine proteases, tentatively involved in scar formation. Two of them, dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP4) and urokinase (PLAU), were further analyzed in functional assays, revealing a role in TGFβ1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation and over-production of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) without interfering with the canonical TGFβ1 -signaling pathway. In this study, we delineate the genetic landscape of hypertrophic scars and present new insights into mechanisms involved in hypertrophic scar formation. Our data suggest the use of serine protease inhibitors for the treatment of skin fibrosis.

2021-05-31 | GSE156326 | GEO

Keloid-specific gene expression profiling for accurate diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Project description:Scars are a heterogeneous disease including normotrophic scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. Of these lesions, keloids are a distinct subtype from any other type of scar because clinically, it causes pain, itching, or tenderness, causing life discomfort and characteristically irreversible. Therefore, for accurate diagnosis and treatment of keloids, it is essential to identify keloid-specific genes. However, in previous studies, keloids were compared with controls such as scar-free normal skin. In these studies, general scar-related genes were likely to be chosen rather than keloid-specific genes. In this study, we acquired transcriptomic profiles of normotrophic scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human skin samples using high-throughput RNA-sequencing techniques. We compared the transcriptome profile of keloids with those of other scar lesions to select for highly accurate keloid-specific genes and pathways. The results revealed that genes related with several biological processes such as sensory/visual perception are upregulated strongly in keloids, whereas genes related with activation of immune response were downregulated remarkably in keloids. Furthermore, the biological process of extracellular matrix organization was highlighted in both hypertrophic scars and keloids. In conclusion, our study provides insight into the pathogenesis of keloids distinct from other scar lesions as well as potential keloid-specific biomarkers.

2021-11-23 | GSE188952 | GEO

Single-cell analysis reveals transcriptomic difference between human hypertrophic scar and keloid

Project description:Background Hypertrophic scars and keloids are both pathological scars with similar appearance and pathological features. Currently, the differential diagnosis of the two mainly depends on the subjective judgment of physicians, and there is a lack of objective diagnostic indicators and treatment methods. Objectives To provide single-cell level evidence and new approaches for the differential diagnosis and clinical treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on a hypertrophic scar and a keloid tissue from the same patient to compare the differences in the cellular and tissue microenvironments of the two conditions. Results ScRNA-seq results depicted the distribution of cell subpopulations and different microenvironments between hypertrophic scars and keloids. Conclusions The results of the analysis showed significant differences in cell subcluster distribution and cell communication between hypertrophic scars and keloids. This study demonstrated the potential of scRNA-seq to differentiate the two conditions and provide a new approach to refine differential diagnosis and a possible target for therapeutic research.

2024-11-15 | GSE243716 | GEO

Dyspigmented hypertrophic scars: Beyond skin color

Project description:Dyspigmented hypertrophic scars: Beyond skin color

| PRJNA664128 | ENA

Whole-transcriptome analysis illustrates evolving transcriptional human response to injury in acute wounds and scars

Project description:The goal of this study was to use RNA sequencing to identify novel genes involved in wound healing and scar formation in human burn wounds and scars. RNA was isolated from 108 human samples comprising of uninjured skin (n=26), acute burn wounds (n=54), and hypertrophic scars (HTS) (n=30). Genes with at least 1.5-fold change and a p-value less than 0.05 with a false discovery rate of 0.05 were considered differentially expressed. Samples were sequenced using Illumina Hi-Seq sequencers, and pathway/Gene Ontology (GO) Enrichment analysis was conducted using iPathwayGuide. Comparing wounds to uninjured skin, we found 9,311 differentially expressed genes, accounting for 1,017 GO terms. Comparing HTS to uninjured skin, we found 7,299 differentially expressed genes, accounting for 1,022 GO terms. By analyzing the whole transcriptome, we characterized dominant genes expressed temporally in wounds and scars. This study reveals the complexity of these processes and helps to bring novel genes to light.

2024-06-03 | GSE178411 | GEO

Swarms of specialized fibroblasts drive scarring through N-cadherin

Project description:Injury in mammals induces a connective tissue response to either regenerate as before, or to scar. The fibroblastic actions and mechanisms that underlie these connective tissue responses remain obscure, as direct observation in animals is too difficult and current assays do not faithfully reproduce physiology. Here, we developed a skin explant technique termed scar-in-a-dish (SCAD) that faithfully recapitulates uniform scars with contraction and reveals how scarring occurs in unprecedented detail. By growing mouse SCADs, with a traceable scar-progenitor fibroblast lineage, we observed previously unseen intercellular connections form between scar-progenitors that then collectively swarm into the nascent wound in highly regular periodic movements that progressively contract the skin and form scars. Swarming is exclusive to scar progenitors and absent from oral cavity fibroblasts that regenerate scarless. By testing a panel of adhesion molecules that might instigate intercellular connections, we found swarming was induced by the upregulation of N-cadherin in scar progenitors. Impeding N-cadherin binding inhibited swarming and contraction, and led to reduced scarring in SCAD and in mice. Blocking N-cadherin and scar-progenitor swarming thus provides a novel therapeutic space to curtail pathological fibrotic responses across a range of medical settings.

2020-10-26 | PXD016068 | Pride

Gene Expression in Three Early Human Hypertrophic Scar Samples

Project description:The goal was to obtain expression data from the deep cones in early human hypertrophic scars to be used to confirm expression data obtained in a porcine model. Three samples of early human hypertrophic scar were obtained and processed with the Affymetrix Human GeneChip® Human Genome U133 plus 2.0. Sample demographics were Black 2, White 1; upper extremity 2, neck 1; times since injury 6.7 months and 10.8 months; and patient ages were 19 and 54.

2011-12-31 | E-GEOD-26213 | biostudies-arrayexpress

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data