Background: In genetically predisposed individuals keloids are formed as benign collagenous tumors.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the proliferation and matrix gene expression of keloid fibroblasts is differently influenced by the anti-inflammatory active drug lysine acetylsalicylate (LAS) when compared to normal skin fibroblasts in vitro.
Methods: Normal skin and keloid fibroblasts derived from human donors were compared.
Results: Excessive scarring and the formation of keloids are (at least in part) due to an overproduction of collagen types I and III. The results show a significant dose-dependent anti-proliferative effect of lysine acetylsalicylate. At the level of gene expression we observed a pronounced inhibitory effect of LAS on procollagen I and III mRNA synthesis, whereas matrix metalloproteinase 1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 were not altered.
Conclusions: Further clinical studies are planned to evaluate these effects of a high-dose treatment of keloids with LAS.