Expression of microtubule destabilizer-oncoprotein18/stathmin gene in the hypertrophic scar before and after the healing of the deep partial thickness burn wounds

Objective To study the expression of microtubule destabilizer-oncoprotein18/stathmin (Op18) gene in the hypertrophic scar before and after the healing of the deep partial thickness burn wound. Methods Total RNA was extracted from the hypertrophic scar of the patients with deep partial thickness burn at different time before and after the wound healing. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of Op18 gene with GAPDH as an internal index. Results The expression of Op18 gene in the hypertrophic scar tissue decreased significantly before wound healing, but increased rapidly after wound healing when compared with that in normal tissue( P <0.05). A sleady over-expression of Op18 gene was found in the hypertrophic scar tissue during 4 to 32 months after wound healing. Conclusion The lower expression of Op18 gene during early postburn stage met the need of cell proliferation and wound tissue repair. The scar hypertrophy could be inhibited by the over-expression of Op18gene in the hypertrophic scar tissue.