[Expression of thymosin beta 4 mRNA expression in keloid tissues and fibroblasts cultured from keloid and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relations between thymosin beta 4 and pathologic scars by comparing the mRNA levels of thymosin beta 4 in keloid, hypertrophic scar and normal skin.


METHODS
The primary fibroblasts from the patients of keloid (KFB), hypertrophic scar (HFB) and normal skin (NFB, n=7) were cultured in vitro with tissue culture system. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was used to assess the thymosin beta 4 mRNA levels in the tissues and fibroblasts obtained from the patients of three groups.


RESULTS
The mRNA levels of thymosin beta 4 in the keloid tissues were lower than those in the tissues of hypertrophic scar and normal skin(both, P<0.01). The thymosin beta 4 mRNA level in keloid group was lower by 66.98% than hypertrophic scar, and 62.48% than normal skin. In addition, the same significant change was found in the cultured KFB compared with HFB group(the mean value was lower by 27.13%), but no difference was found between KFB and NFB.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of thymosin beta 4 is closely related with keloid. The inadequate expression of thymosin beta 4 may be one of the key factors for keloid formation.
Nie
Fang-fei
FF
Department of Plastic Surgery, Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Wu
Jiang-qun
JQ
Qin
Ze-lian
ZL
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013947:Thymosin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)