A methylation analysis of human normotrophic scar dermal fibroblasts

3mm punch biopsies were taken from a healed normotrophic scar and a contralateral matched control site in burn patients with a scar at least 1 year old. Fibroblasts were cultured from explants to passage 2 and DNA was extracted and run on methylation arrays to examine differences in scar and control fibroblast gene expression Normotrophic scar maintains its abnormal scar phenotype for the rest of the patients life, long after the injury has healed. Differences in gene expression may reaveal target genes that can be modulated to improve scar appearance 6 patients had normotrophic scar and matched control fibroblasts extracted and compared