THE EFFECT OF MELANIN CONCENTRATION ON COLLAGEN ACCUMULATION IN KELOID

This research arises from the revelation that colored-skin people have a high incidence of keloid, in contrast to albinos who never experience this entity. Keloid is an abnormal scar, characterized by collagen accumulation. Melanin is the most important pigment determining skin color variations in humans. The correlation between increased melanin concentration and collagen accumulation was assumed to be linked to pH. An experimental laboratory research was performed, employing the principle of biochemical reaction between collagen and collagenase, to observe pH in various concentrations of melanin, and collagen-collagenase reactions under various pH and in different concentrations of melanin (n=73). A cross sectional observational research was performed on keloid , evaluating tissue pH, melanin concentration and collagen concentration (n=30). Research data were analyzed using t-test and regression statistical methods. The results of this research demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the results of absorbance under pH≤7.2 and pH>7.2 (p 0.05), due to the effect of assay buffer used. All keloid tissues possessed a pH of ≤7.2. Melanin increased in proportion to its decreased pH (p<0.05). Decreased pH caused increased collagen concentration (p<0.05). Increased melanin concentration led to increased collagen concentration (p<0.05). Increased melanin concentration and decreased pH progressively increased collagen concentration (p<0.05). This research concludes that melanin plays a role in collagen accumulation by decreasing the pH that eventually disrupts collagen degradation process.

[1]  Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS.  Scars and keloids , 2004, BMJ : British Medical Journal.

[2]  E. Tanzi,et al.  Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids , 2003, American journal of clinical dermatology.

[3]  T. Tuan,et al.  The molecular basis of keloid and hypertrophic scar formation. , 1998, Molecular medicine today.

[4]  J. Murray.  Scars and keloids. , 1993, Dermatologic clinics.

[5]  M. Chedekel,et al.  Melanin standard method: particle description. , 1992, Pigment cell research.

[6]  D. D. Datubo-Brown.  Keloids: a review of the literature. , 1990, British journal of plastic surgery.

[7]  E. Flynn,et al.  The biology of the melanocyte. , 1988, Progress in clinical and biological research.

[8]  J. G. Lyons,et al.  A spectrophotometric collagenase assay. , 1986, Analytical biochemistry.

[9]  中川 秀己.  Acid phosphatase in melanosome formation : a cytochemical study in normal human melanocytes , 1985 .

[10]  S. Pollack,et al.  The surgical treatment of keloids. , 1982, The Journal of dermatologic surgery and oncology.

[11]  Cohen Ik,et al.  Hypertrophic scars and keloids. A collective review. , 1974 .

[12]  H. Goldschmidt,et al.  Quantitative analysis of skin color from melanin content of superficial skin cells. , 1972, Journal of forensic sciences.

[13]  J. Hoopes,et al.  Alpha-naphthyl acid phosphatase activity in normal human skin and keloids. , 1971, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[14]  A. Eisen,et al.  Human skin collagenase. Isolation and mechanism of attack on the collagen molecule. , 1968, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[15]  P. Bourrel.  [Keloids in the African]. , 1967, Medecine tropicale : revue du Corps de sante colonial.

[16]  Koonin Aj.  THE AETIOLOGY OF KELOIDS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND A NEW HYPOTHESIS. , 1964 .

[17]  A. J. Koonin.  THE AETIOLOGY OF KELOIDS: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND A NEW HYPOTHESIS. , 1964, South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde.