Abstract:

Song Haifeng, Wang Wenting, Liu Tao, Zhang Yanguo. Department of Dermatology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi′an 710038, China Corresponding authors: Liu Tao, Email: Morlab2@fmmu.edu.cn; Zhang Yanguo, Email: zhangya3341@163.com 【Abstract】 Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expressions of nine integrin subunits in human keloid-derived mesenchymal stem cells （KD-MSCs）. Methods Cultured KD-MSCs and normal skin-derived MSCs （NS-MSCs） served as the experiment group and control group respectively. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were performed to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of nine integrin subunits in the two groups respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out by t test. Results Real-time quantitative PCR showed no significant difference in the mRNA expression level of any of the integrin units α2, α3, α5, αV, α10, α11 or β1 between KD-MSCs and NS-MSCs （all P > 0.05）. The mRNA expression level of integrin α8 was decreased, while that of integrin β3 was significantly increased in KD-MSCs compared with NS-MSCs （both P < 0.01）. Western blot revealed that the changes in protein expression levels of integrin units α8 and β3 were consistent with those in their mRNA expression levels in both KD-MSCs and NS-MSCs （both P < 0.01）. Conclusions Integrin units α8 and β3 may be involved in the occurrence and development of keloid, and the receptors made up of them may play important roles in the pathogenesis of keloid.