Methylation control of p16 gene expression in early phase of deep second degree burn and hypertrophic scar after burn healing

    YAO Qingª²Jun1,CHEN Bi1,HU Daª²Hai1,XU Mingª²Da1,DONG Maoª²Long1,WANG Shuª²Sen2

    1Department of Burn Surgery,2Department of Orthopedics,Xijing Hospital£¬Fourth Military Medical University,Xi¬ðan 710033£¬China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the methylation level of p16 gene,one tumor suppressing gene in genome,in early phase of deep second burn and different phases of hypertrophic scars after burn healing.METHODS: Samples of 17 d,30 d and 44 d were selected as early phase of deep second degree burn and the samples of 4 mo,8 mo,18 mo and 32 mo as different phases of hypertrophic scars.Five cases were assigned to each group and the methylation level of p16 gene was observed by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MS PCR).RESULTS: The p16 gene methylation level was significantly higher in 17 d and 30 d after burn.It was lower in 4 mo but higher in 18 mo and 32 mo of hypertrophic scars,compared with that in normal skin.CONCLUSION: The high methylation level of p16 gene in early phase of deep second degree burn may promote the wound healing.The low methylation level of p16 gene in 4 mo hypertrophic scars may suppress the rapid growth of hypertrophic scars.But the high methylation level of p16 gene in 8 mo hypertrophic scar may be responsible for the rapid growth of hypertrophic scars. ......