Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1987) 89, 238–244; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12471056

Collagen Gene Expression in Keloids: Analysis of Collagen Metabolism and Type I. III, IV, and V Procollagen mRNAs in Keloid Tissue and Keloid Fibroblast Cultures

Leena Ala-Kokko1, Aarne Rintala2 and Eeva-Riitta Savolainen1

  1. 1Collagen Research Unit, Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Oulu, Oulu
  2. 2Department of Surgery, Cleft Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Received 8 September 1986; Accepted 17 February 1987.

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Abstract

Regulation of collagen gene expression was studied in keloids and fibroblast cultures established from keloid biopsies from 9 patients. The collagen concentration in keloid tissue was not different from that in normal skin. The activities of 2 enzymes catalyzing intracellular collagen bio- synthesis, prolyl 4-hydroxylase (P1-I) and galactosylhy- droxylysyl glucosyltransferase (GGT) were significantly elevated in the keloids, the mean increase in the former enzyme being 5-fold and in the latter 3-fold with respect to the controls. The mean procollagen production rate in the keloid fibroblasts was at the control level, with only 1 keloid cell line showing a procollagen synthesis rate higher than the mean value + 2 SD of the controls. The mean PH and GGT activities of the keloid fibroblasts were not elevated, but PH activity in 2 cell lines, and GGT activity in 1 cell line were higher than the mean + 2 SD for the controls. Cellular type I, III, IV, and V procollagen mRNAs were measured by slot blot hybridization using specific human cDNA clones for the various collagen types. The amounts of type I, III, and V procollagen mRNAs corresponded to the ratios in which these collagen types are produced by fibroblasts. No synthesis of type IV procollagen mRNA by keloid fibroblasts was observed. The total amount of type I and Ill procollagen rnRNAs correlated significantly (p < 0.01) with the procollagen synthesis rate measured after radioactive labeling of the cells in the keloid and control fibroblasts, indicating that collagen production in these cells is mainly controlled by regulating the final steady state levels of collagen mRNA. The results suggest that fibroblasts isolated from keloids often synthesize normal amounts of collagen.

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