Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
181,713 studies31 sourcesUpdated 32 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDPlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open

Comparative Transcriptomic Signatures of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Genetic Association Pilot Study.

  • Luiz Fernando Lima Barros1
  • Andre L F Faustino2
  • Ândrea Ribeiro-Dos-Santos3
  • Yasmim C B da Silva4
  • Juarez A S Quaresma5
5 affiliations
  1. 1From Department of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
  2. 2Department of Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
  3. 3Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
  4. 4Department of Medicine, State University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
  5. 5Department of Pathology, Paulista School of Medicine/UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Background

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are fibroproliferative skin disorders with overlapping clinical features but distinct biological behaviors, posing major therapeutic challenges in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Understanding their molecular mechanisms is critical for developing targeted interventions.Methods

A comparative study of transcriptomic profiles of keloid (n = 3) and hypertrophic scar (n = 3) lesions from female patients (thoracic region, no comorbidities). RNA-seq was performed, and differential gene expression was analyzed using DESeq2. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted via Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, stratifying upregulated and downregulated genes.Results

Keloids exhibited upregulation of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis, RNA splicing, chromosomal organization, and cell cycle progression (eg, USP39, CEP85, RNF180, VHL), reflecting a sustained anabolic and proliferative state. In contrast, hypertrophic scars were enriched in immune and metabolic pathways, with higher expression of ICAM1, MRC1/CD206, PDE2A, TMEM120A, and TMEM135, suggesting modulation by inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, transforming growth factor beta) and M2 macrophage polarization. Integrated Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses highlighted central pathways including transforming growth factor beta, nuclear factor κB, advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products, and cAMP response element-binding protein, with polycomb repressive complex activation identified as a shared yet differentially regulated epigenetic axis.Conclusions

This study revealed distinct molecular signatures in keloid and hypertrophic scars, elucidating divergent mechanisms of fibroblast proliferation, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for translational strategies in plastic surgery, including precision-targeted therapies, drug repurposing, and gene-based interventions, advancing management of pathological skin fibrosis and improving surgical outcomes.

Related

  1. Left Ventricular Structural, Physiological, and Transcriptomic Abnormalities in a Novel Porcine Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Model.
    Eric M Green, Carlos Del Rio, Kamel Shibbani +18
    JACC. Basic to translational sciencePeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull text1 citedCardiovascular medicineEurope PMC
  2. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Is Associated with Attenuation of OGD/R-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Programs in Microglia: Transcriptomic Evidence Converging on the NLRP3 Inflammasome and Lipid-Droplet-Related Molecular Signatures
    BiomedicinesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  3. Primary-Tumor Transcriptomic Signatures Associated with Circulating Tumor Cells Status in Breast Cancer: From CTC-Negative Remodeling to CTC-Associated Metastatic Programs
    Betul Budak, Sena Ozay, Betul Yilmaz +1
    BiomedicinesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  4. Transcriptomic Profiling of Oxidative Stress-Associated Immune and Apoptotic Signatures and In Silico Prediction of Therapeutic Candidates for Sjögren’s Syndrome Dry Eye
    Jiao Wang, Qiping Qing, Jing Zhang +6
    BiomedicinesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  5. Blood transcriptomic signatures of vascular risk in Alzheimer's disease
    Sang‐Won Han, Young Ho Park, Jung‐Min Pyun +4
    Alzheimer's & DementiaPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthPMCEurope PMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{barros2026comparative,
  title = {{Comparative Transcriptomic Signatures of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Genetic Association Pilot Study.}},
  author = {Luiz Fernando Lima Barros and Andre L F Faustino and Ândrea Ribeiro-Dos-Santos and Yasmim C B da Silva and Juarez A S Quaresma},
  journal = {Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1097/gox.0000000000008207},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921356},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Comparative Transcriptomic Signatures of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Genetic Association Pilot Study.
AU  - Luiz Fernando Lima Barros
AU  - Andre L F Faustino
AU  - Ândrea Ribeiro-Dos-Santos
AU  - Yasmim C B da Silva
AU  - Juarez A S Quaresma
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open
DO  - 10.1097/gox.0000000000008207
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42921356
AB  - Background  Keloids and hypertrophic scars are fibroproliferative skin disorders with overlapping clinical features but distinct biological behaviors, posing major therapeutic challenges in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Understanding their molecular mechanisms is critical for developing targeted interventions.Methods  A comparative study of transcriptomic profiles of keloid (n = 3) and hypertrophic scar (n = 3) lesions from female patients (thoracic region, no comorbidities). RNA-seq was performed, and differential gene expression was analyzed using DESeq2. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted via Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, stratifying upregulated and downregulated genes.Results  Keloids exhibited upregulation of genes involved in ribosome biogenesis, RNA splicing, chromosomal organization, and cell cycle progression (eg, USP39, CEP85, RNF180, VHL), reflecting a sustained anabolic and proliferative state. In contrast, hypertrophic scars were enriched in immune and metabolic pathways, with higher expression of ICAM1, MRC1/CD206, PDE2A, TMEM120A, and TMEM135, suggesting modulation by inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, transforming growth factor beta) and M2 macrophage polarization. Integrated Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses highlighted central pathways including transforming growth factor beta, nuclear factor κB, advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products, and cAMP response element-binding protein, with polycomb repressive complex activation identified as a shared yet differentially regulated epigenetic axis.Conclusions  This study revealed distinct molecular signatures in keloid and hypertrophic scars, elucidating divergent mechanisms of fibroblast proliferation, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for translational strategies in plastic surgery, including precision-targeted therapies, drug repurposing, and gene-based interventions, advancing management of pathological skin fibrosis and improving surgical outcomes.
SN  - 2169-7574
ER  -