Fig. 2.

USP15 is significantly up-regulated and the TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway is over-activated in hypertrophic scar tissues. (Above, left) Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression level of USP15, TβRI, Smad2, Smad3, and fibrosis markers α-SMA, COL1, and COL3 in hypertrophic scar tissues and matched normal skin tissues (*p < 0.05). (Below, left) Western blot was used to measure the protein expression level of USP15, TβRI, Smad2, Smad3 and α-SMA, COL1, and COL3 in hypertrophic scar tissues and matched normal skin tissues. (Right) Densitometry analysis of Western blot results (*p < 0.05). HS, hypertrophic scar; NS, normal skin.