OBJECTIVETo investigate the codon-72 polymorphism of the tumor suppressor gene p53, codon-72 encodes arginine (Arg) or proline (Pro) for a genetic predisposition,to keloid or hypertrophic scar.

METHODSThe distribution of codon 72 polymorphism of p53 gene was analyzed from the 54 keloid and 30 hypertrophic scar(HS)of the Japanese patients with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequence analysis.

RESULTSThe frequency of the Proline-encoding alleles and Arginine-encoding alleles in the hypertrophic scar patients and the piercing-induced ear-lobe keloid patients, was deviated significantly from that in the normal Japanese controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe Proline-encoding allele and Arginine-encoding allele could have the risks for the hypertrophic scar and the piecing-induced ear-lobe keloid. Also, the pathogenesis of the hypertrophic scar seems to be different from that of keloid at the molecular level.