Increased expression of tenascin C by keloids in vivo and in vitro

Tenascin C, undulin, collagen XIV and fibronectin are extracellular matrix glycoproteins with a partial DNA sequence homology. During embryogenesis, tenascin C is abundant in mesenchymal tissues but its distribution in human adult tissue is severely restricted. The levels of tenascin C expression are enhanced with skin inflammation, wound healing and hyperproliferative skin diseases and return to normal in normal scar tissue after wound contraction is completed. Undulin/collagen XIV is associated with collagen fibrils and fibronectin is present throughout the dermis in adult skin but it is produced by keloidal fibroblasts in an increased amount. In this study we investigated by immunohistochemistry the expression of the three extracellular matrix proteins in keloids and normal skin as well as in keloidal and normal fibroblasts in vitro. In keloids, increased tenascin C expression was observed especially in the reticular dermis associated with collagen fibrils sharply demarcating the limit of the lesion. In normal tissue, tenascin C was only expressed beneath the basal lamina and dermal-epidermal junction. Corresponding to the in vivo findings, tenascin C expression was increased in keloidal fibroblasts compared with normal fibroblasts in vitro (P < 0.003), whereas undulin/collagen XIV and fibronectin expression in keloids and keloidal fibroblasts was similar to that in normal tissue and normal fibroblasts, respectively. Therefore, tenascin C is a marker associated with keloids and we suggest that keloidal fibroblasts, once stimulated, continue to produce tenascin C independently from circulating factors.