RNA sequencing of circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs ,and mRNAs in human keloid dermal tissues
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ABSTRACT: Keloid is a dermal fibroproliferative disease with various etiologies and unclear pathogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exerted regulatory functions through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) pathway in keloid progression. However, the expression profiles of circRNAs and lncRNAs in keloid dermal tissues (KDTs) remain unknown. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs, lncRNAs and genes in KDTs.
Project description:To further explore the expression of circular RNAs in keloid,we have completed the Arraystar Human circRNA Array V2 analysis of the 8 samples,including 4 patients-derived keloid dermal fibroblasts and 4 normal dermal fibroblasts.
Project description:Keloid disease (KD) is a fibroproliferative cutaneous tumour characterised by heterogeneity, excess collagen deposition and aggressive local invasion. Normal and keloid scar tissues were analysed with a site-specific in situ approach through combined laser capture microdissection, as well as whole tissue biopsy and monolayer cell culture techniques.
Project description:Keloids are wounding-induced fibroproliferative human tumor–like skin scars of complex genetic makeup and poorly defined pathogenesis. Fibroblasts are the principal mediator of fibroproliferative disorders. To reveal dynamic epigenetic and transcriptome changes of keloid fibroblasts, a vertical study from RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses followed by in vivo confirmation of candidate molecule expression and subsequent functional testing was carried out using an early passage, freshly isolated keloid fibroblast cell strain and its paired normal control. These keloid fibroblasts produce keloid-like scars in a plasma clot-based skin equivalent humanized keloid animal model. RNA-seq analysis reveals that Hepatic fibrosis is the most significant pathway followed by Wnt–b-catenin signaling, TGF-b signaling, regulation of the EMT pathway, the STAT3 pathway, and adherens junction signaling. ATAC-seq analysis shows that STAT3 signaling is the most active pathway in keloid fibroblasts, followed by Wnt signaling (Wnt5) and regulation of the EMT pathway. Immunohistochemistry confirms that activated STAT3, (Tyr705 phospho-STAT3) and/or b-catenin are upregulated in dermal fibroblasts of keloid clinical specimens and mature keloid skin equivalent implants from the humanized mouse model compared to the normal control. The effect of STAT3 signaling on keloid fibroblast collagen expression was further tested in plasma clot-based skin equivalents using Cucurbitacin I, a selective JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor. A non-linear dose response of Cucurbitacin I was observed in collagen type I expression indicating a likely role of STAT3 signaling pathway in keloid pathogenesis. This work also demonstrates the utility of the recently established humanized keloid mouse model in exploring the mechanism of keloid formation.
Project description:Keloids are fibroproliferative dermal tumors of unknown origin that are characterized by the overabundant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The mechanism of keloid formation has remained unclear because of a poor understanding of its molecular basis. In this study, the dermal ECM components of keloids were identified, and the pathological mechanism of keloid formation was characterized using large-scale, quantitative proteomic analyses of decellularized keloid biomatrix scaffolds. We identified a total of 267 dermal core ECM and ECM-associated proteins that were differentially expressed between patients with keloids and healthy controls. Skin mechanical properties, key pathways, and biological processes including protease activity, wound healing, and adhesion were disordered in keloids. The integrated network analysis of the upregulated ECM proteins revealed the involvement of estrogen signaling pathways in keloid formation. Our findings may improve the scientific basis of keloid treatment and provide new ideas for the establishment of keloid models.
Project description:Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role of dysregulated circRNAs in keloid. Methods: High-throughput sequencing was used to detect the changes of circRNAs, microRNAs(miRNAs) and mRNAs in 3 samples of keloid and corresponding normal skin.Based on Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway enrichment analysis combining several signaling pathways associated with keloid formation and progression, we screened these differentially expressed circRNAs.qRT–PCR validation was performed using TaqMan and SYBR Green assays Results: Compared with normal controls, there were an average of 120 and 12 circRNAs, 44 and 63 miRNAs, 656 and 156 mRNAs were up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, in keloids. Conclusions: This study implicates that the abnormal expression of circRNAs in cases of keloid may correlate with its pathological process.
Project description:Microarray analysis was used to determine the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs between 3 pairs of earlobe keloid and normal specimens. Results provide insight into involement of lncRNAs in the pathological process of earlobe keloid formation. 3 pairs of earlobe keloid and normal specimens.
Project description:Keloids are benign fibroproliferative skin tumors caused by aberrant wound healing, the etiology of which is unknown. Although keloids cause life inconveniences and cosmetic problems, the lack of animal models has yet to elucidate their pathogenesis or develop effective treatments. Here, we found that the characteristics of stem cells from keloid lesions and surrounding dermis differ from those of normal skin and that HEDGEHOG (HH) signal and its downstream transcription factor GLI1 were upregulated in keloid patient-derived stem cells. Inhibition of the HH-GLI1 pathway reduced the expression of genes involved in keloids and fibrosis-inducing cytokines, including osteopontin. Moreover, HH-signal inhibitor vismodegib reduced keloid reconstituted tumor size and the expression of keloid related genes in nude mouse, and the collagen bundle and the expression of cytokines characteristic for keloids in ex vivo culture of keloid tissues. These results implicate the HH-GLI1 pathway in keloid pathogenesis and suggest therapeutic target of keloids.