Fibrillin‐1 and elastin are differentially expressed in hypertrophic scars and keloids

Abstract

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are two forms of excessive cutaneous scarring. Considering the importance of extracellular matrix elements in tissue repair, a morphological and quantitative analysis of the elastic system components (fibrillin-1 and elastin) was performed in normal skin, normal scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. In superficial and deep dermis, fibrillin-1 volume density was significantly higher in normal skin compared with normal scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. The fibrillin-1 volume density did not show differences between hypertrophic scars and keloids in superficial or deep dermis. In superficial dermis, elastin volume density was higher in normal skin compared with normal scars, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. In deep dermis, the elastin volume density was higher in keloids compared with normal skins, normal scars, and hypertrophic scars. We showed that the distribution of fibrillin-1 and elastin is disrupted in all kinds of scars analyzed, but there are two patterns: one for normal scars and another for excessive scars.

Glyaderm® dermal substitute: Clinical application and long-term results in 55 patients

“…Elastin is historically underrepresented in commercial dermal substitutes, yet it serves a fundamental role in skin structure and function. The dermal elastic network determines skin resilience, texture, and quality but is poorly regenerated following burn [15]. In addition to its structural and mechanical functions, elastin has inherent cell signaling properties that promote a diverse range of cellular responses including chemotaxis, cell attachment, proliferation, and 2 0 1 5 ) 1 3 2 -1 4 4 differentiation.…”

“…In addition to its structural and mechanical functions, elastin has inherent cell signaling properties that promote a diverse range of cellular responses including chemotaxis, cell attachment, proliferation, and 2 0 1 5 ) 1 3 2 -1 4 4 differentiation. Matrix elasticity and regeneration of the elastic fiber system is important for the development of functional dermal substitutes [15]. Collagen has been used in most dermal substitutes as it makes up the largest portion of the dermis, is biologically tolerated, and has well-defined structural, physical, and biological properties.…”

“…Elastin does not adequately regenerate during severe wound healing and its distribution is disrupted in cutaneous scars [15]. It takes 4-5 years for elastin expression to rise following cultured …”

“…Elastin is functionally and spatially disorganized in scar tissue [28,29]. Expression of both elastin and fibrillin-1 are reduced in scar tissue with a particularly prominent reduction in hypertrophic scars [15]. Newly synthesized, elastic fibers in scar tissue always appear thin, fragmented, and less mature than elastic fibers in normal skin [15,29,30].…”

“…Expression of both elastin and fibrillin-1 are reduced in scar tissue with a particularly prominent reduction in hypertrophic scars [15]. Newly synthesized, elastic fibers in scar tissue always appear thin, fragmented, and less mature than elastic fibers in normal skin [15,29,30]. Even in scars older than 10 years, elastic fibers never reach the size and maturity of healthy skin [30], which attributes to the fact that hypertrophic scars are usually hard and inelastic [29].…”