Epithelial–mesenchymal transition in the formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids

Abstract

Abnormal wound healing is likely to induce the formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids, which leads to dysfunction, deformity, and mental problem in the patients.Despite the advances in prevention and management of hypertrophic scar and keloids, the mechanism underlying scar and keloid formation has not been fully elucidated. Recent insights into the role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in development, wound healing, stem cell regulation, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertrophic scarring and keloids and suggested new therapeutic targets. This review summarizes recent progress in the elucidation of the role of EMT in physiologic wound healing and pathologic scar formation. This knowledge will facilitate an understanding of EMT roles in scar formation and shed new light on the modulation and potential treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. K E Y W O R D S epithelial-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix, hypertrophic scar, keloid, wound healing

Emerging Role of IL-10 in Hypertrophic Scars

“…The incidence of HS is between 40 and 70% following surgery and as high as 91% after burns (4, 5). Although HS has been studied extensively in recent years, no practical or specific therapeutic approaches are currently available for HS, partially because the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood (6,7).…”

Direct and Indirect Roles of Macrophages in Hypertrophic Scar Formation

“…Abnormal scarring, such as hypertrophic scars and keloids, results in a remarkable alteration in appearance and function, and impairs the patient’s quality of life, both physically and psychologically (Van Loey and Van Son, 2003; Finnerty et al, 2016). It has been shown that genetic predisposition and skin injury play an important role in the formation of hypertrophic scars and keloids (Yuan et al, 2019). Different from hypertrophic scar, keloids are wounding-induced fibroproliferative tumor-like human scars.…”

Clinical Challenge and Call for Research on Keloid Disorder: Meeting Report from The 3rd International Keloid Research Foundation Symposium, Beijing 2019

“…an endothelial-tomesenchymal transition (Lim et al, 2019;Yuan et al, 2019). Thus, there is a considerable heterogeneity of cell populations, with diverse biosynthetic profiles within keloids.…”