Construction and validation of the diagnostic model of keloid based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis

Characterization of the skin keloid microenvironment

Keloids are a fibroproliferative skin disorder that develops in people of all ages. Keloids exhibit some cancer-like behaviors, with similar genetic and epigenetic modifications in the keloid microenvironment. The keloid microenvironment is composed of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, immune cells, stem cells and collagen fibers. Recent advances in the study of keloids have led to novel insights into cellular communication among components of the keloid microenvironment as well as potential therapeutic targets for treating keloids. In this review, we summarized the nature of genetic and epigenetic regulation in keloid-derived fibroblasts, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of keratinocytes, immune cell infiltration into keloids, the differentiation of keloid-derived stem cells, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition of vascular endothelial cells, extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling, and uncontrolled angiogenesis in keloids with the aim of identifying new targets for therapeutic benefit. Video Abstract.

Potential genetic therapies based on m6A methylation for skin regeneration: Wound healing and scars/keloids

Skin wound healing is a complex and multistage process, where any abnormalities at any stage can result in the accumulation of non-functional fibrotic tissue, leading to the formation of skin scars. Epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, inhibiting cell fate determination, and responding to environmental stimuli. m6A methylation is the most common post-transcriptional modification of eukaryotic mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs. However, it remains unclear how RNA methylation controls cell fate in different physiological environments. This review aims to discuss the current understanding of the regulatory pathways of RNA methylation in skin wound healing and their therapeutic implications with a focus on the specific mechanisms involved.

The m6A-methylated mRNA pattern and the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway under the hyper-m6A-modifying condition in the keloid

Purpose: The present study was carried out to investigate the global m⁶A-modified RNA pattern and possible mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of keloid. Method: In total, 14 normal skin and 14 keloid tissue samples were first collected on clinics. Then, three samples from each group were randomly selected to be verified with the Western blotting to determine the level of methyltransferase and demethylase. The total RNA of all samples in each group was isolated and subjected to the analysis of MeRIP sequencing and RNA sequencing. Using software of MeTDiff and htseq-count, the m⁶A peaks and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined within the fold change >2 and p-value < 0.05. The top 10 pathways of m⁶A-modified genes in each group and the differentially expressed genes were enriched by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathways. Finally, the closely associated pathway was determined using the Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Results: There was a higher protein level of WTAP and Mettl3 in the keloid than in the normal tissue. In the keloid samples, 21,020 unique m⁶A peaks with 6,573 unique m⁶A-associated genetic transcripts appeared. In the normal tissue, 4,028 unique m⁶A peaks with 779 m⁶A-associated modified genes appeared. In the RNA sequencing, there were 847 genes significantly changed between these groups, transcriptionally. The genes with m⁶A-methylated modification and the upregulated differentially expressed genes between two tissues were both mainly related to the Wnt signaling pathway. Moreover, the hyper-m⁶A-modified Wnt/β-catenin pathway in keloid was verified with Western blotting. From the immunofluorescence staining results, we found that the accumulated fibroblasts were under a hyper-m⁶A condition in the keloid, and the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway was mainly activated in the fibroblasts. Conclusion: The fibroblasts in the keloid were under a cellular hyper-m⁶A-methylated condition, and the hyper-m⁶A-modified highly expressed Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the dermal fibroblasts might promote the pathogenesis of keloid.

SPINDOC is Highly Expressed in Pan-Cancer Samples and Can Promote the Proliferation, Invasion and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Activating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

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