The role of cytokines in keloid pathophysiology has not been fully evaluated.

A new study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research compared various cytokines in patients with keloids and a control group of patients without keloids nor family history of keloids, so as to determine which cytokines are elevated and could thus be critical in keloid formation.

In this cross-sectional study, patients were categorized into two groups – one with keloids and another without keloid. Patients in both groups were matched for age, sex and body mass index. Their plasma was analysed for both, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Each group comprised 42 participants; the male to female ratio was 1:2, and Age ranges were similar with a mean of 29.6 years. A total of 28 cytokines were assayed. Statistically significant differences were noted in 15 of the 28 cytokines assayed with 11 being elevated more in keloid patients with only four in the non-keloid forming group. Among the elevated cytokines in keloid patients were granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, granulocyte-monocyte-colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins 4, 6 and 13.

In inference, it was stated that patients with keloids have significantly higher cytokines than non-keloid forming patients. Hence, keloid formation could be influenced by multiple inflammatory cytokines, which signifies that the patients immune system could play a role in keloid formation, as in auto-inflammatory diseases.

Source: Journal of Inflammation Research. 2021 Jun 10;14:2465-2470. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S312091.