Expression of TGF-β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts.

The aim of the present study was to detect the expression of the key molecules, including transforming growth factor‑β1 (TGF-β1), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) of TGF‑β1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts. Immunofluorescence, reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of the key molecules TGF‑β1, PI3K, Akt, mTOR in fibroblasts of normal skin tissue and pathological scar tissue. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of TGF‑β1, PI3K and Akt was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the cell nucleus, but not in normal skin tissue or fibroblasts. RT‑PCR and western blot test results revealed that the TGF‑β1, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR mRNA and protein expression in pathological scar fibroblasts were significantly higher (P<0.05) than in the normal skin tissue. Expression of the TGF‑β1/mTOR signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly increased. Data suggest that this expression may be an important mechanism for pathological scar formation.