OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and distribution of platelet derived growth factor receptor-beta(PDGFR-beta) in normal skin and keloid and to discuss its biological function in keloid formation. METHODS: 1. To detect the expression and distribution of PDGFR-beta in normal skin and keloid tissue by immunohistochemistry; 2. To detect the receptor expression in vitro by Flow cytometry (FCM); 3. To detect the subcellular distribution of receptor by Laser confocal microscope. RESULTS: 1. Immunohistochemistry showed that normal skin and keloid tissue were almost the same in expression but different in distribution of PDGFR-beta; 2. There was more expression of PDGFR-beta in normal fibroblasts than that in keloid fibroblasts in vitro by FCM; 3. Laser confocal microscope revealed that the PDGFR-beta concentrated on the surface of cell membrane in keloid fibroblasts, but in normal skin fibroblasts, the receptors were coagulated on the nuclear membrane and intranucleus. CONCLUSION: Compared with the fibroblasts in vivo, there was a difference of the PDGFR-beta expression in fibroblasts in vitro, more expression of PDGFR-beta in normal fibroblast than that in keloid fibroblast in vitro; and the subcellular distribution of PDGFR-beta was different in normal skin and keloid fibroblasts. The characteristics of the expression and distribution of PDGFR-beta in keloid may contribute to the formation of keloid.
