The "Matrisome" reveals the characterization of skin keloid microenvironment

Keloids are fibroproliferative dermal tumors of unknown origin that are characterized by the overabundant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The mechanism of keloid formation has remained unclear because of a poor understanding of its molecular basis. In this study, the dermal ECM components of keloids were identified and the pathological features of keloid formation were characterized using large-scale quantitative proteomic analyses of decellularized keloid biomatrix scaffolds. We identified a total of 267 dermal core ECM and ECM-associated proteins that were differentially expressed between patients with keloids and healthy controls. Skin mechanical properties and biological processes including protease activity, wound healing, and adhesion were disordered in keloids. The integrated network analysis of the upregulated ECM proteins revealed multiple signaling pathways involved in these processes that may lead to keloid formation. Our findings may improve the scientific basis of keloid treatment and provide new ideas for the establishment of keloid models.