Expression of TGF-β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts

The aim of the present study was to detect the expression of the key molecules, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) of TGF-β1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of the key molecules TGF-β1, PI3K, Akt, mTOR in fibroblasts of normal skin tissue and pathological scar tissue. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of TGF-β1, PI3K and Akt was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the cell nucleus, but not in normal skin tissue or fibroblasts. RT-PCR and western blot test results revealed that the TGF-β1, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression in pathological scar fibroblasts were significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the normal skin tissue. Expression of the TGF-β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly increased. Data suggest that this expression may be an important mechanism for pathological scar formation.