3. The Versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex might contribute to inflammation in keloids
Noriko Aramaki-Hattori1, Yusuke Murasawa2, Zenzo Isogai2, Keisuke Okabe1, and Kazuo Kishi1 1:Department of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan 2:Department of Advanced Medicine, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
Keloids are characterized by abnormal collagen deposition (collagen bundle) and excessive deposition of other extracellular matrix components. We previously reported that versican cleavage is upregulated in keloids and that the cleavage product (called versikine) is highly deposited in keloids. Versikine forms a complex with SHAP (serum-derived hyaluronan-associated protein) and hyaluronan, and the complex induces inflammation in certain skin conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex in keloids. We investigated the protein level of the versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex in six cases of keloid tissue (all cases included normal skin lesions). In all cases, the level of the versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex was higher in keloid lesions than in normal skin lesions. This result suggests that a high level of the versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex contributes to inflammation in keloids. Manipulating the level of versikine or the versikine-SHAP-hyaluronan complex may have therapeutic implications.
