ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to investigate the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1 pter-36.21 of keloid in order to locate the deletion areas probably harboring scar suppressor genes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR )-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 25 samples of keloid tissues and peripheral blood were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>15 out of 25 samples of keloid tissues exhibited LOH in at least one microsatellite locus. There were deletions at more than one locus of one keloid tissue. No MSI was found. The frequency of LOH was remarkably higher in the keloid tissues (n = 25, 15, 60%) than in the normal control samples (n = 25, 1, 4%). The frequency of LOH in D1S243, D1S468, D1S507 and D1S199 was as following: (n= 25, 7, 28%), (n =25, 10, 40%), (n = 25, 13, 52%) and (n= 25, 3, 12%). The frequency of LOH in D1S243, D1S468, D1S507 were statistically significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The most common LOH occurred at D1S243-D1S468-D1S507 might imply the existence of potential tumor suppressor gene of a subset of keloid , while MSI on 1 pter-36.21 may not a crucial event.</p>