An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor‑stimulated gene‑6 (TSG‑6) has a key role in the progression of fibrosis; however, the exact effects of TSG‑6 in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) remain unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of TSG‑6 in the pathogenesis of keloids. Primary fibroblasts from 10 patients with keloid were cultured and transfected with pLVX‑Puro or pLVX‑Puro‑TSG‑6. Alterations of TSG‑6 expression were then determined by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) and regulation was observed in KFs transfected with pLVX‑Puro‑TSG‑6. Compared with the control group, transfection with pLVX‑Puro‑TSG‑6 induced growth suppression, cell apoptosis and G2/M arrest in KFs. In addition, the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway was activated in KFs transfected with pLVX‑Puro‑TSG‑6. These findings indicate that TSG‑6 is a novel regulator of keloid fibrogenesis, and thus could be used/targeted TSG‑6 as a promising treatment for keloid.
Keywords: tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6; apoptosis; proliferation; keloid; fibrosis.