Surgical incisions and burns can sometimes result in thickened, raised, painful, and itchy scars known as hypertrophic scars and keloids. These scars occur when wounds heal abnormally, leading to ongoing inflammation, pain, itching, and the excessive production of collagen in and around the wound. Keloids most commonly develop on the torso, head, and neck, typically in early adulthood. They affect men and women equally and are more common in people with darker skin. In developed countries alone, around 100 million people develop hypertrophic scars and keloids each year following approximately 80 million surgical procedures.
The overall aim of this project is to investigate the role of alpha-1 adrenoceptors in the inflammation and pain associated with keloids and hypertrophic scars. Keloids will be used as a model to better understand injury-related skin inflammation and pain. The study will examine the relationship between alpha-1 adrenoceptors and inflammatory substances in the body, as well as the effects of activating or blocking these receptors in both laboratory-grown skin cells and people with painful scars.
A better understanding of the role of alpha-1 adrenoceptors in wound healing, inflammation, and painful scars may help identify improved treatment options. Painful scars can be difficult to treat and often require surgery. Keloid scars, in particular, are frequently treated with painful steroid injections after surgery. By understanding how alpha-1 adrenoceptors contribute to the development of painful scars, these receptors may become a target for new treatments. This could help reduce pain and potentially lead to less invasive ways to prevent abnormal scar formation after injury and reduce the risk of keloids returning after surgical removal.
University of Notre Dame, WA
Professor Eric Visser, Professor Peter Drummond, Professor Fiona Wood, Associate Professor Mark Fear.
Associate investigator: Dr Natalie Morellini.
The project was awarded funding of $45,498 through the ANZCA research grants program for 2019.
Last modified: