The dynamic expression of TNF-alpha mRNA of hypertrophic scars and its roles / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha TNF-alpha in the hypertrophic scar and find a valid way to treat the hypertrophic scars with gene therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TNF-alpha mRNA expression was tested with a semiquantitative reverse polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR) method in the different period of a hypertrophic scar.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant increase of TNF-alpha mRNA as the hypertrophic scar was getting mature (P < 0.01). However, the ratios of TNF-alpha mRNA was significantly in a lower level than the normal scar.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results suggest that TNF-alpha may play an important role in normal would healing, but the hypertrophic scar may result from the shortage of the TNF-alpha. This indicates that to increase the TNF-alpha with gene therapy may be a good way to treat the hyphertrophic scar.</p>