Keloid mechanobiology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the mechanobiology of keloid scar formation
IRAS ID
266351
Contact name
John Connelly
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Keloids are a pathologic and extreme form of wound healing in which the scar tissue expands beyond the initial wound margins. Scars develop commonly in Asian and Afro-Caribbean populations (4-16%) following injury to the skin, and are extremely challenging to treat. Despite on-going research, little is known about the underlying causes of keloid scarring, and new approaches are needed to more effectively manage these conditions. Based on our preliminary data, alongside the clinical observation that keloids form in areas of high tension, we hypothesise that tissue biomechanics directly regulates the initiation and progression of keloid scars.
This project therefore aims to determine the direct role of mechanical forces in keloid scar formation. First, the mechanical and structural properties of scar tissue and normal skin will be analysed. Next, we will determine the direct effects of tissue stiffness on cultured cells isolated from normal skin and scar tissue. Cells will be cultured in gels with defined mechanical properties, and protein and gene expression profiling will identify the biochemical signalling pathways that regulate mechano-sensing. Finally, activation of these pathways in vivo will be assessed in patient samples and correlated with tissue biomechanics.
Together, the results of these studies will provide significant insights into the mechanisms of keloid scarring and establish for the first time the direct role of tissue biomechanics. The findings will open up new opportunities for improving the treatment and management of this condition.REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1370
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion