Immune-dominated cellular heterogeneity and stromal plasticity in keloid infiltrating and hypercellular zones revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing

Category	Detail
Condition	Keloids
Key Mechanisms	Immune-stromal crosstalk driving peripheral invasion and cellular heterogeneity.
Target Population	Patients with anterior chest keloids, aged 18-60.
Care Setting	Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Hypercellular zone dominated by myofibroblasts; infiltrating zone enriched in mononuclear phagocytes and endothelial cells.
Infiltrating zone fibroblasts exhibit an immunomodulatory, inflammatory phenotype.
Macrophages in the infiltrating zone show a type I interferon signature.
Langerhans cells follow a three-stage developmental trajectory influencing neutrophil and Th17 cell recruitment.
Endothelial cells undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition at the keloid margin.

Keloids characterized by excessive fibroblast proliferation and ECM deposition beyond wound margins.

Consideration of zone-specific therapies targeting hypercellular and infiltrating regions.

Assessment of cellular and molecular changes in keloid zones for treatment response.

Four female patients with anterior chest keloids.

Different keloid zones exhibit variations in treatment sensitivity and efficacy.

Utilize single-cell RNA sequencing for detailed characterization of keloid microenvironments.
Implement personalized treatment strategies based on keloid zone characteristics.

Clinical Scorecard: Characterization of Immune-Driven Cellular Diversity and Stromal Adaptability in Keloid Infiltrative and Hypercellular Regions via Single-Cell RNA Sequencing