Expression And Clinical Significance Of COX-2 And VEGF In Hypertrophic Scars

Objective: To explore the expression of COX-2 and VEGF in hypertrophic scars and to investigate the relationship between the clinical features of HS and the expression of COX-2 and VEGF, as well as their clinical significance.Methods: In 32 surgically resected specimens from patients with hypertrophic scar, 8 with normal skin and 12 specimens from patients with normal scar, the expression of COX-2 and VEGF were detected by Immunohistochemical staining (Streptavidin/peroxidase). The relationship between the clinical features such as age, height, pliability, vascularity, complaint of HS and the changes of COX-2 and VEGF expression was also evaluated.Result: Intensive Positive expressions of COX-2 and VEGF were observed in 32 specimens of hypertrophic scars, which is much more than in the specimens of normal scar and normal skin (P<0.01). Poor or negative expressions of COX-2 and VEGF were detected in normal scar and normal skin tissues , and the expression intensity of COX-2 and VEGF in cuticular layer of normal scar were a litter more than in that of normal skin (P<0.05), but in subcuticular layer the difference between the two groups was not significant(P>0.05) . Perfect correlation had been found between the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF (r=0.929 in cuticular layer, r=0.929 in subcuticular layer), in which there was markedly statistically significant (P<0.01). COX-2 overexpression was significantly associated with high VEGF expression. In the group of hypertrophic scar, there was high expression of COX-2 and VEGF in hyperplastic stage, which was markedly more than in maturation stage (P<0.01). With height descending,hardness softening,vascularity decreasing,complaint releasing , the maturity of hypertrophic scar was increasing, while the intensity of COX-2 and VEGF expression presented a gradual downtrend (P<0.01) . NO statistically obvious correlation had been found between COX-2 and VEGF expression and the age of patients who suffered from hypertrophic scar (P>0.05)Conclusion:1. Perfect correlation between the expressions of COX-2 and VEGF showed that they may play cooperative roles in angiogenesis of hypertrophic scar. COX-2 and VEGF may be two important regulative factors in the development of hypertrophic scar.2. Overexpression of COX-2 and VEGF in hypertrophic scar, which closely correlated with the clinical features of HS, could be used as biological markers for evaluating the maturity of scar.3. Intervening the expression of COX-2 and VEGF may provide an effective method for clinical prevention and treatment of hypertrophicscar.