Zhang, J.; Li, S.; Kuang, C.; Shen, Y.; Yu, H.; Chen, F.; Tang, R.; Mao, S.; Lv, L.; Qi, M.; Zhang, J.; Yuan, K.

The healing of human skin wounds is susceptible to perturbation caused by excessive mechanical stretching, resulting in enlarged scars, hypertrophic scars, or even keloids in predisposed individuals. Keloids are fibro-proliferative scar tissues that extend beyond the initial wound boundary, consisting of the actively progressing leading edge and the quiescent center. The stretch-associated outgrowth and enhanced angiogenesis are two features of the leading edge of keloids. However, which cell population is responsible for transducing the mechanical stimulation to the pathological alterations of keloid tissues remains unclear. Herein, through joint analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing of keloid specimens and RNA sequencing of stretched keloid fibroblasts, we identified CD74+ fibroblasts, a previously unappreciated subset of fibroblasts, as a key player in stretch-induced keloid progression. Examination of macrophage markers suggested a possible myeloid origin of the CD74+ fibroblasts. Immunostaining of keloid cryosections depicted a predominant distribution of CD74+ fibroblasts in the leading edge, interacting with vasculature. CD74+ fibroblasts possessed pro-angiogenic and migratory capacities, as revealed by in vitro transwell and tube formation assays on purified CD74+ fibroblasts. Additionally, these cells underwent proliferation upon stretching, through PIEZO1-mediated calcium influx and the downstream ERK and AKT signaling. Collectively, our findings propose a model wherein CD74+ fibroblasts serve as pivotal drivers of stretch-induced keloid progression, fueled by their proliferative, pro-angiogenic, and migratory capacities. Targeting the attributes of CD74+ fibroblasts hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for keloid management.