590 Schwann cells – an unexpected key player in keloid formation

Abstract

Despite decades of research, the driving forces behind keloids, an itching, painful and movement-restricting skin disorder, are still not fully understood. Here we performed single cell RNA sequencing to gain novel insights on the cellular composition and transcriptional pattern of keloids. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a so far undescribed accumulation of Schwann cells in keloids, which was not detectable in normal skin and normal scars. Compared to Schwann cells from normal skin, keloidal Schwann cells showed a completely distinct phenotype.