[The dynamic expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of hypertrophic scars and its roles].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha: TNF-alpha in the hypertrophic scar and find a valid way to treat the hypertrophic scars with gene therapy.


METHODS
TNF-alpha mRNA expression was tested with a semiquantitative reverse polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR) method in the different period of a hypertrophic scar.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase of TNF-alpha mRNA as the hypertrophic scar was getting mature (P < 0.01). However, the ratios of TNF-alpha mRNA was significantly in a lower level than the normal scar.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that TNF-alpha may play an important role in normal would healing, but the hypertrophic scar may result from the shortage of the TNF-alpha. This indicates that to increase the TNF-alpha with gene therapy may be a good way to treat the hyphertrophic scar.
Zhang
Jian-lin
JL
Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University of PLA, Shanghai 200003, China.
Lin
Zi-hao
ZH
Jiang
Hua
H
Yuan
Xiang-bin
XB
Zhao
Yao-zhong
YZ
Wu
Jian-ming
JM
Zhu
Xiao-hai
XH
Wu
Hong
H
D000328:Adult; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha