Scarring following
burn injury and its accompanying aesthetic and functional sequelae still pose major challenges. Hypertrophic
scarring (HTS) can greatly impact patients' quality of life related to appearance,
pain,
pruritus and even loss of function of the injured body region. The identification of molecular events occurring in the evolution of the
burn scar has increased our knowledge; however, this information has not yet translated into effective treatment modalities. Although many of the pathophysiologic pathways that bring about exaggerated
scarring have been identified, certain nuances in
burn scar formation are starting to be recognized. These include the effects of
neurogenic inflammation, mechanotransduction, and the unique interactions of
burn wound fluid with fat tissue in the deeper dermal layers, all of which may influence
scarring outcome. Tension on the healing
scar,
pruritus, and
pain all induce signaling pathways that ultimately result in increased
collagen formation and myofibroblast phenotypic changes. Exposure of the fat domes in the deep dermis is associated with increased HTS, possibly on the basis of altered interaction of adipose-derived stem cells and the deep
burn exudate. These pathophysiologic patterns related to stem cell-
cytokine interactions, mechanotransduction, and
neurogenic inflammation can provide new avenues of exploration for possible therapeutic interventions.