Inflammation as an orchestrator of cutaneous scar formation: a review of the literature
Keloids are abnormal, raised scars that develop after injury. These scars display some similarities with tumors, as they tend to invade the adjacent skin and extend beyond the initial site of injury. There are no widely accepted experimental animal models of keloid disease, so studies on keloid pathogenesis are generally limited to experiments on tissue from human patients. A number of studies have examined inflammation in keloid tissue and the vast majority have indicated that keloids are associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cells.
Abstract
Inflammation is a key phase in the cutaneous wound repair process. The activation of inflammatory cells is critical for preventing infection in contaminated wounds and results in the release of an array of mediators, some of which stimulate the activity of keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts to aid in the repair process. However, there is an abundance of data suggesting that the strength of the inflammatory response early in the healing process correlates directly with the amount of scar tissue that will eventually form. This review will summarize the literature related to inflammation and cutaneous scar formation, highlight recent discoveries, and discuss potential treatment modalities that target inflammation to minimize scarring.