Avaliação de mastócitos e da expressão imunohistoquímica de marcadores de Triptase, HIF-1α, MT1-MMP, TIMP-3 e TIMP-4 em cicatrizes de queloide

Abstract

Keloids are considered benign fibroproliferative disorder characterized by an inflammatory environment, growth beyond the borders of the initial scar, and significant fibrotic formation. Its pathophysiology is not yet fully elucidated; therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate in situ the presence of mast cells and immunostaining for tryptase, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) in keloids compared to controls. Seventeen keloid biopsies were analyzed, and normal scar fragments taken from secundiparous or multiparous patients during cesarean section were used as controls. Toluidine blue staining was performed to evaluate the presence of mast cells and immunohistochemistry with anti-tryptase, anti-HIF-1α, anti-MT1-MMP, anti-TIMP-3, and anti-TIMP-4 antibodies. Results showed a predominance of females, non-white, direct black ancestry, and location of the lesion in the earlobe. Keloids showed a significant increase in mast cells, tryptase, HIF-1α, MT1-MMP, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 and a positive and significant correlation between mast cells and tryptase. Our data suggest that the presence of mast cells and expression of tryptase, HIF-1α, MT1-MMP, TIMP-3, and TIMP-4 are associated with keloid development.