title: Altered interleukin-6 expression in fibroblasts from hypertrophic burn scars.
abstract: Hypertrophic burn scars (HBSs) are characterized by a net accumulation of collagen. The role of growth factors and various cytokines in the pathogenesis of these lesions has not been fully characterized. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important immunoregulatory cytokine that can affect fibroblast function. This study showed increased expression of the IL-6 gene in fibroblasts isolated from patients with HBSs compared with control fibroblasts when the ribonuclease protection assay was used. A subsequent increase in unstimulated and stimulated IL-6 secretion was noted in HBS fibroblasts compared with normal control fibroblasts (unstimulated, 0.3627+/-0.2017 pg/cell vs 0.0662+/-0.0786 pg/cell, P = .0054; serum, 0.770+/-0.523 pg/cell vs 0.233+/-0.231 pg/cell, P = .0381; serum and interferon-gamma, 0.912+/-0.650 pg/cell and 0.244+/-0.199 pg/cell, P = .0327). These results are further evidence of the role of inflammatory cytokines in the development of HBSs.
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospital for Children--Galveston Unit and the University of Texas Medical Branch, 77550, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6