BACKGROUND:Bone morphogenetic proteins are associated with the formation and development of scars. Fibroblasts are closely related to the proliferation and maturation of scars. However, the expression of bone morphogenetic proteins in fibroblasts in different stage of hypertrophic scars remains poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2/4, bone morphogenetic protein 7, bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA in fibroblasts in different stage of hypertrophic scars.
METHODS:The immunohistochemical SP method was employed to detect the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2/4, bone morphogenetic protein 7, bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA in fibroblasts in 20 cases of proliferative stage hypertrophic scar and 20 cases of maturation stage hypertrophic scar. Al samples were obtained from the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, the People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2/4 in fibroblasts in proliferative hypertrophic scars significantly elevated compared with mature hypertrophic scars (P<0.05). In various stages of hypertrophic scars, the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 and bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA in fibroblasts was not obviously different (P>0.05). Results demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein 2/4 expression down-regulated during the development from proliferative stage to maturation stages in fibroblasts in hypertrophic scars. However, there was no change in the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 7 and bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA.