Project description:Although pigment synthesis is well understood, relevant mechanisms of psychologically debilitating dyspigmentation in nascent tissue after cutaneous injuries are still unknown. Here, differences in genomic transcription of hyper- and hypopigmented tissue relative to uninjured skin were investigated using a red Duroc swine scar model. Transcription profiles differed based on pigmentation phenotypes with a trend of more upregulation or downregulation in hyper- or hypopigmented scars, respectively. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of significantly modulated genes in both pigmentation phenotypes showed pathways related to redox, metabolic, and inflammatory responses were more present in hypopigmented samples, while those related to stem cell development differentiation were found mainly in hyperpigmented samples. Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and inflammation responses were predicted (z-score) active in hyperpigmented and inactive in hypopigmented. The proinflammatory high-mobility group box 1 pathway showed the opposite trend. Analysis of differentially regulated mutually exclusive genes showed an extensive presence of metabolic, proinflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways in hypopigmented scars, while melanin synthesis, glycosaminoglycans biosynthesis, and cell differentiation pathways were predominant in hyperpigmented scar. Several potential therapeutic gene targets have been identified.
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.
Project description:Background: Ablative fractional carbon dioxide (AFCO2) laser therapy is used for treating pathological scarring. However, mechanisms underlying reduction in hypertrophic scarring are poorly understood. Methods: We investigated cellular mechanisms of AFCO2 laser therapy by performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on skin biopsies from burn survivors with hypertrophic scars before and after three sessions of AFCO2 therapy. Scar reduction was assessed subjectively and objectively. Results: Those with a good response (GR) to laser therapy have scars less than 6 years from injury, whereas poor responders (PR) have scars over 6 years since injury. ScRNA-seq analysis of skin biopsies reveals that genes enriched in GR are associated with extracellular matrix and structure organisation (COL14A1, POSTN, SPARC); whereas genes enriched in PR are related to enhanced immune inflammatory responses (CXCL14, JUN, TNC). Notably, expression of the pro-fibrotic gene Engrailed-1 (EN1) remains elevated in PR scars compared to GR. The ECM-regulatory gene TIMP-1 (Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 1) is also significantly upregulated in PR scars following treatment relative to GR scars, although at the protein level TIMP1 levels decrease in PR but increase in GR after therapy. The regenerative-associated gene, TRPS1 (Transcriptional Repressor GATA Binding 1) expression demonstrates opposing regulation post treatment, with upregulation observed in GR scars but downregulation in PR scars, underscoring distinct transcriptional trajectories associated with differential therapeutic outcomes. Finally, distinct intercellular communication networks and differentiation trajectories are observed after AFCO2, with regenerative mesenchymal fibroblasts predominating in GR but inflammatory fibroblasts associated with PR. Conclusions: We conclude AFCO2 laser therapy is more effective if done early after injury and distinct fibroblast recruitment is associated with a good response, specifically regenerative fibroblasts. Plain English summary: Ablative fractional carbon dioxide (AFCO2) laser therapy is used for reducing scarring. However, results are varied and the factors associated with a good response are poorly understood. We assessed scar reduction after AFCO2 therapy in patients with excessive scarring, taking skin biopsies to determine the cell types present in the treated areas and which genes they expressed. We showed that the therapy was more effective in patients who were less than 6 years from injury, those with a good response had scars containing regenerative fibroblasts and gene expression that was distinct from those with a poor response. We conclude that AFCO2 therapy is most effective if used early after injury and that a more regenerative, less inflammatory cell infiltration is associated with scar reduction.
Project description:The clinical manifestations and presentation of rhinophyma closely resemble those of hypertrophic scar tissue, both presenting as firm, fibrotic growths. Despite this phenotypic similarity, a critical divergence is observed following surgical intervention: the affected skin in rhinophyma can revert to its normal state without scar recurrence, a favorable outcome starkly contrasting with the behavior of hypertrophic scars. The underlying mechanisms for this phenomenon have yet to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to uncover the cellular and molecular disparities between these two pathological conditions using single-cell sequencing technology to resolve this clinical paradox. The objective of this study is to compare the single-cell transcriptomic profiles of rhinophyma and hypertrophic scar tissues to identify key cell types and molecular pathways that may account for the distinct healing fate of rhinophyma post-surgery and provide novel insights for the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars.
Project description:After disruption of the skin, fibroblasts along wound edges are constantly exposed to high levels of stress, resulting in increased collagen synthesis and decreased apoptosis. Emerge evidences shows that, the hypertrophic scars tissue fibrosis phenomena are original from the intrinsic cellular mechanical stretch. Traditional glucocorticoids on hypertrophic scarring have been performed for 30 years, utilizing for their anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and immunomodulatory effects and for their well-established, pro-apoptotic effects on hematological malignancies. To explore effects of glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide for responses to mechanical stress in hypertrophic scars fibroblasts (HSFB), we performed microarrays to explore the differential gene expression.
Project description:Hypertrophic skin scarring following dermal injury causes extreme pain and psychological trauma for patients. Unfortuately, we do not have effective treatments to prevent or reverse skin scarring. Using RNA and ATAC sequencing of mouse and human fibroblasts, we show that JUN expressing fibroblasts are responsible for skin scarring by regulating CD36 expression. In summary, we show that CD36 antagonism by represent a therapeutic target to overcome JUN hypertrophic skin scarring.
Project description:After disruption of the skin, fibroblasts along wound edges are constantly exposed to high levels of stress, resulting in increased collagen synthesis and decreased apoptosis. Emerge evidences shows that, the hypertrophic scars tissue fibrosis phenomena are original from the intrinsic cellular mechanical stretch. Traditional glucocorticoids on hypertrophic scarring have been performed for 30 years, utilizing for their anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and immunomodulatory effects and for their well-established, pro-apoptotic effects on hematological malignancies. To explore effects of glucocorticoid triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for responses to mechanical stress in hypertrophic scars fibroblasts (HSFB), we performed microarrays to explore long noncoding RNA expression.
Project description:Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition, matrix metalloprotein gene activation, and fibroblast invasive growth. However, the methylation level of hypertrophic scarring is poorly understood. Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of normal skin and hypertrophic scar. The Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850K) was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 853,307 CpGs in liquid based scar samples. Samples included 6 normal skin, and 6 hypertrophic scar.
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.