Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue
Published on: July 28, 2023
Immune cells in keloids: mechanisms and potential treatments
Yuqi Wu1, Yuting Huang1, Hao Zhang1
1Department of Dermatology, Research Center of Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
Insights
Keloids involve immune cell dysfunction, with regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages promoting fibrosis. Targeting these immune pathways offers potential new keloid treatments.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Immunology: Focuses on the intersection of skin biology and immune system responses.
Background:
- Keloids are common fibrotic disorders marked by persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation.
- The role of immune cells in keloid development and progression is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the immunoregulatory mechanisms and immune dysfunction in keloids.
- To discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting these immune pathways.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of evidence on immune cell populations and pathways in keloid pathogenesis.
- Emphasis on regulatory T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells.
Main Results:
- Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) promote keloid formation by secreting TGF-β and IL-10, suppressing inflammation and enhancing fibroblast proliferation.
- M2 macrophages are prevalent in keloids, contributing to extracellular matrix deposition via anti-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors.
- Keloids exhibit an immune environment rich in regulatory cells but with impaired cytotoxic activity (CD8+ T cells, NK cells), fostering a pro-fibrotic microenvironment.
Conclusions:
- Immune regulatory mechanisms and cytotoxic immune dysfunction are key to keloid pathogenesis.
- Targeting these immune pathways may lead to novel immunomodulatory therapies for improved keloid treatment outcomes.
Background:
Keloids are a prevalent pathological fibrotic and proliferative disorder characterized by persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. In recent years, the critical role of immune cells in keloid development and progression has attracted increasing attention.
Objective:
To summarize the immunoregulatory mechanisms and immune dysfunction involved in keloids and to discuss therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways.
Methods:
Relevant evidence on immune cell populations and immunoregulatory pathways implicated in keloid pathogenesis was reviewed, with emphasis on regulatory T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, CD8+ T cells, and natural killer cells.
Results:
Regulatory immune cells, particularly regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs), exert important effects on keloid formation. Tregs secrete cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), which suppress inflammation while promoting fibroblast hyperproliferation. M2 macrophages are the predominant macrophage subtype in keloid tissue and contribute to extracellular matrix deposition through the secretion of anti-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic factors. In addition, keloids may exhibit an immune milieu characterized by enrichment of canonical immunoregulatory populations, including regulatory T cells, tolerogenic dendritic cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, together with impaired cytotoxic immune activity involving dysfunctional or exhausted CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells. These alterations collectively support an anti-inflammatory yet pro-fibrotic microenvironment that favors keloid persistence and progression.
Conclusion:
Immunoregulatory mechanisms and cytotoxic immune dysfunction are central to keloid pathogenesis. Targeting these pathways may provide a basis for the development of novel immunomodulatory strategies to improve keloid outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:28Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...
01:19Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells