Expression of TGF-β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts
Authors: Xiao-Xiang Zhai
Zhi-Ming Tang
Ji-Cun Ding
Xiao-Lan Lu
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: key molecules; transforming growth factor‑β1; TGF-β1; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PI3K
Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xuzhou City, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221003, P.R. China., Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Xuzhou Center Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China., Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China.

Abstract:  The aim of the present study was to detect the expression of the key molecules, including transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF-β1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) of TGF‑β1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of the key molecules TGF‑β1, PI3K, Akt, mTOR in fibroblasts of normal skin tissue and pathological scar tissue. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of TGF‑β1, PI3K and Akt was significantly enhanced (P&lt;0.05) in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the cell nucleus, but not in normal skin tissue or fibroblasts. RT‑PCR and western blot test results revealed that the TGF‑β1, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression in pathological scar fibroblasts were significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) than in the normal skin tissue. Expression of the TGF‑β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly increased. Data suggest that this expression may be an important mechanism for pathological scar formation. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 More similar than one would expect to  The Promoter Hypermethylation of DAPK Gene and p16 Gene in Sera from Chinese Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients ([Lin et al 2006] ). One might almost say that they are identical. **INTRODUCTION** *Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world [l]. The most effective treatment for NSCLC is surgica1 resection, but this modality is limited by the fact that 65% of patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis[2]. F0r example, the 5 -year survival rate following surgical resection is about 70% for patients with stage I NSCLC but drops to only 30% in patients with stage IIIa disease. Thus, earlier detection of 1ung cancer would facilitate more effective management of the disease.* *Nanogram quantities of DNA circulating in blood are present in healthy individuals. Previous studies have proposed that tumor DNA is also released in plasma and serum. However, the serum of cancer patients is enriched in DNA, containing, on average, about 4 times the amount of free DNA[3], compared to normal controls. On the basis of these observationsu02c8 several studies have shown that it is possible to identify microsatellite alterations in the plasma and serum DNA of patients with head and neck carcinoma and lung carcinoma[4]* From Lin et al: *Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world[1]. The most effective treatment for NSCLC is surgical resection, but this modality is limited by the fact that 65% of patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis[2]. For example, the 5-year survival rate following surgical resection is about 70% for patients with stage I NSCLC but drops to only 30% in patients with stage IIIa disease. Thus, earlier detection of lung cancer would facilitate more effective management of the disease.* *Nanogram quantities of DNA circulating in blood are present in healthy individuals. Previous studies have proposed that tumor DNA is also released in plasma and serum. However, the serum of cancer patients is enriched in DNA, containing, on average, about 4 times the amount of free DNA[3], compared to normal controls. On the basis of these observations, several studies have shown that it is possible to identify microsatellite alterations in the plasma and serum DNA of patients with head and neck carcinoma and lung carcinoma[4].* ,