Acne Scars

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 May 21; Ulrich D, Ulrich F, Unglaub F, Piatkowski A, Pallua NBACKGROUND: Hypertrophic scars and keloids are fibroproliferative skin disorders characterised by progressive deposition of collagen. Our study is designed to investigate the expression and concentration of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in different types of scars and keloids. METHODS: Total RNA from 19 proliferative hypertrophic scar samples of patients with extended burns (total body surface area (TBSA): 21+/-12%), 18 mature hypertrophic scar samples from patients after elective surgery, 14 keloid samples and 18 normotrophic scar samples was, respectively, extracted, and then mRNA was isolated. Besides, biopsies were obtained from non-scarred skin of the patients and extraction of total RNA performed. Relative mRNA expression of MMP 2, MMP 9, TIMP 1 and TIMP 2 was measured with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum concentrations of MMP-1, -2, -9, TIMP-1, and -2 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Patients with extended hypertrophic scars after burn trauma presented a significantly higher TIMP-1 concentration (p