Image: Jiao H, Zhang T, Fan J, and Xiao R (2017). Keloid Dermis at Different Depths.
A recent study investigated the biological mechanisms behind keloid formation and may help lead to improved methods for preventing and treating the condition. Keloids are a type of fibrotic skin disorder caused by excessive growth of scar tissue, often resulting in raised scars, pain, and limited movement. Although keloids are common, the exact causes of their development are still not fully understood. Current treatment options are also limited in effectiveness.
Researchers used data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify genes that are expressed differently in keloid tissue compared to normal tissue. Bioinformatics analyses were performed to examine gene enrichment patterns as well as cell and tissue specific expression.
The analysis identified the gene Homeobox D8 (HOXD8) as a major contributor to keloid development. HOXD8 expression was found to be approximately two times higher in keloid tissues than in normal tissues. When researchers suppressed HOXD8 activity, the growth of keloid fibroblasts was significantly reduced, while cell death increased. These effects were also linked to changes in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Overall, the study suggests that HOXD8 plays an important role in promoting keloid formation through its effects on signaling pathways in keloid fibroblasts. These findings provide new insight into the molecular basis of keloid disease and indicate that HOXD8 could serve as a promising target for future therapies.
link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850726002268
additional:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.00885/full
No comments:
Post a Comment