IGF1 and CXCR4 Respectively Related With Inhibited M1 Macrophage Polarization in Keloids

Abstract

Purpose: The pathophysiology of keloid remains unclear. Exploring the immune heterogeneity and new biomarkers of keloids can help design new therapeutic targets for keloid treatments and prevention. Methods: The authors performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and bulk data differential gene expression analysis of public datasets(GSE92566 and GSE163973). They used Gene Ontology (GO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and immune infiltration analysis to identify the function of the differential expressed genes. Besides, the authors performed qt-PCR on keloid tissue and adjacent normal tissues from 3 patients for further verification. Results: M2 macrophage increased in keloid samples than M1 macrophage. The authors identified 2 potential novel biomarkers of keloid, IGF1 and CXCR4, which could inhibit M1 macrophage polarization. The potential mechanism could be inhibiting immune responses and anti-inflammatory activities through INF signaling and E2F targeting. The differential expression of the 2 genes was verified by clinical samples. Conclusions: The authors identified 2 immune signaling molecules associated with keloid formation (IGF1 and CXCR4) and analyzed their potential pathogenic mechanisms.