title: Reduced expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 in hypertrophic scars.
abstract: Autophagy is a tightly regulated physiological process essential for cellular maintenance, differentiation, development, and homeostasis. Aberration of this process associates with the pathogeneses of several diseases in mammals. Hypertrophic scar (HS) is characterized by an abundance of collagenous tissue with hypercellularity. However, the molecular mechanism in HS formation is poorly understood. We compared the autophagic capacity in HS and its normal skin (NS) counterparts and explored the molecular mechanism of autophagy during the formation of HS. Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) proteins in HS and NS were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The data showed that LC3 positive staining in HS was less intensive relative to NS group (p < 0.05). Three forms of LC3, with molecular weights of about 19 kDa (proLC3), 18 kDa (LC3-I) and 16 kDa (LC3-II), respectively, expressed in NS by Western blot. In contrast, only proLC3 expressed while both LC3-I and LC3-II were significantly downregulated in HS. The protein level of beclin 1 in HS was significantly lower compared with NS (p < 0.05). LC3 and beclin 1 mRNA levels in HS were significantly lower than that in NS (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the generation of LC3-I and LC3-II are interrupted in HS, and that the resultant decrease of autophagic capacity may associate with the pathogenesis of HS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Ji-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Da-Hai
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhan-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hong-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiong-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ying-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Chao-Wu
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology; D000071186:Beclin-1; D002648:Child; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins