Differential distribution of haematopoietic and nonhaematopoietic progenitor cells in intralesional and extralesional keloid: do keloid scars provide a niche for nonhaematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells?

Abstract

We have found distinct subpopulations of haematopoietic and nonhaematopoietic MSC in keloid scars, whereby HSC accumulate extralesionally, while keloids seem to provide a niche environment for nonhaematopoietic MSC. Future therapy of keloids may have to target differentially both stem cell populations in order to deprive these tumours of their regenerative cell pools.