Establishment of an in vitro keloid model

The skin is a vital organ that fulfills a variety of functions, including metabolic activities, immune defense, and protecting the body from harmful influences. When injuries occur, the body initiates a precisely regulated wound healing process involving various cell types and factors. However, in some cases, keloids form, and their development remains poorly understood. Since experimental animals do not develop keloids, the greatest challenge in keloid research is creating suitable models that replicate this pathology as accurately as possible. In this study, we aim to develop a human in vitro 3D model that mimics the tissue alterations observed in keloids. This model will consist of human Schwann cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes, allowing the investigation of the complex interactions among these cell types. A particular focus will be placed on Schwann cells and macrophages to study the recently described interaction between a specialized pro-fibrotic Schwann cell type and M2 macrophages in keloids. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms will provide valuable insights for the development of new therapeutic approaches. Given the pivotal role of the pro-fibrotic Schwann cell type in keloid pathogenesis, we will further focus on identifying factors that influence the differentiation state of these cells in the 3D scar model. The findings will be compared with our existing datasets from human keloids to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the factors involved in keloid formation. This study represents an innovative research approach addressing a largely unexplored and complex problem. Our goal is to develop a reliable and reproducible human keloid model that can be used in preclinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of newly discovered drugs against keloids. Such a model would not only represent a significant advancement in keloid research but also contribute to a substantial reduction in animal testing.