Patients with hypertrophic scars following severe burn injury express different long noncoding RNAs.

Research indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute significantly to fibrotic diseases. Although lncRNAs may play a role in hypertrophic scars after burns, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using chip technology, we compared the lncRNA expression profiles of burn patients and healthy controls (HCs). Microarray results were examined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to verify their reliability. The biological functions of differentially expressed mRNAs and the relationships between genes and signaling pathways were investigated by Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses, respectively. In contrast with HCs, it was found that 2738 lncRNAs (1628 upregulated) and 2166 mRNAs (1395 upregulated) were differentially expressed in hypertrophic scars after burn. Results from RT-PCR were consistent with those from microarray. GO and pathway analyses revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs are mainly associated with processes related to cytokine secretion in the immune system, notch signaling, and MAPK signaling. The lncRNA expression profiles of hypertrophic scars after burn changed significantly compared with HCs. It was believed that the transcripts could be used as potential targets for inhibiting abnormal scar formation in burn patients. ● Chip technology was used to detect the differences in lncRNAs and mRNAs expression. ● The lncRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles of hypertrophic scars after burn differed. ● Processes presented in hypertrophic scars related to immune system、signaling pathway. ● The study may provide ideas for the treatment of hypertrophic scar after burn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]