title: [The significance and characteristics of distribution of beta-endorphin and mu-opioid receptors in normal skin and hyperplastic scar].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To detect the distribution of beta-endorphin and mu-opioid receptors (MOR) in normal skin tissue and scar tissue from healthy volunteers and patients with hypertrophic scar.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal skin samples from 10 healthy individuals and 10 patients with hypertrophic scar, and scar samples from the same 10 patients were investigated. The beta-endorphin and MOR protein in the samples were detected by immunofluorescence (IF). The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect MOR mRNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beta-endorphin and MOR protein were expressed in all samples. There were no significant differences in the expression of beta-endorphin and MOR protein between normal skin from healthy volunteers and patients with hypertrophic scar (P > 0.05). The expression of beta-endorphin, MOR protein and mRNA in hyperplastic scar was significantly stronger than that in normal skin (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of beta-endorphin and MOR is different in normal skin and hypertrophic scar. This maybe the possible reason of scar paresthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Region, Guangzhou 510010, China. chengbiaocheng@sohu.com
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D001615:beta-Endorphin