Investigating Metabolic Alterations in Keloid Tissues via FLIM and FLIRR Analyses

Keloid is a common benign fibroproliferative skin disorder impairing appearance and life quality. Currently, the diagnosis of keloids primarily relies on clinicians' clinical experience, but the extent of their infiltration is difficult to accurately determine by visual inspection alone. Keloid formation is often associated with excessive fibroblast proliferation, during which cells exhibit bioenergetic patterns resembling those of cancer cells, primarily relying on glycolysis for ATP production. This study investigated the metabolic differences between keloid and normal skin tissues. Using FLIM, we analyzed the autofluorescence of the endogenous fluorophores NAD(P)H and FAD to evaluate the metabolic states of skin tissues. The FLIRR was calculated to quantify these metabolic changes. These metabolic discrepancies can provide crucial guidance for the diagnosis of keloids. The combination of FLIM and FLIRR enables noninvasive differentiation between keloid and normal tissues, offering the potential for more accurate diagnosis and treatment.