Expression of fibroblast-activation protein in keloid tissue and its clinical significance

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the expression of fibroblast-activation protein(FAP) in keloid tissue and its role in the development of keloid. Methods: Immunochemical staining was used to evaluate the expression of FAP in 30 cases of keloid tissue (case group) and 20 normal skin (control group). FAP positive rates were compared between these two groups, and among different grades of keloids. Results: FAP was mainly expressed in the fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells of the keloid tissue, but not in normal skin (positive rates 73.33% vs. 0, χ2=26.19, P=0.001). Moreover, FAP positive rates varied significantly among different grades of keloids (both P<0.05). Conclusions: Keloid tissue displays a higher positive rate of FAP, which correlates positively with the severity of keloid, suggesting a pathogenic role of FAP in keloid. Approaches to target FAP may be helpful to prevent and treat keloid.

Keywords

• keloid
• fibroblast-activation protein
• expression