title: Long non-coding RNA H19 promotes the proliferation of fibroblasts in keloid scarring.
abstract: The expression of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 is associated with proliferation in tumors. In order to investigate whether H19 may additionally mediate the proliferation of fibroblasts in human keloid disease, the present study collected samples from 24 subjects, including 8 with keloids, 8 with normal scars and 8 normal skin controls. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that H19 levels were markedly increased in human keloids compared with normal scars and normal skin controls (P=0.017). In order to identify a potential role for H19 in the proliferative activity of human keloid fibroblasts, small interfering (si)RNA-mediated silencing experiments were performed. H19 siRNA treatment markedly inhibited the proliferation of keloid fibroblasts, as assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (P=0.008). In order to identify the signaling mediators that are regulated by H19 in keloid fibroblasts, the expression levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined using western blotting. The results confirmed that knockdown of H19 inhibited mTOR and VEGF expression. In summary, the results indicate that H19 may be associated with increased proliferative activity of keloid fibroblasts, which may be mediated by mTOR and VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Cai Yue
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Wenzhou Heping Plastic Surgery Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wen Fang
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jia Xuan
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Qiu
keywords: keloid; long non-coding RNA H19; mammalian target of rapamycin; proliferation; vascular endothelial growth factor