Derazantinib Inhibits the Bioactivity of Keloid Fibroblasts via FGFR Signaling

Keloids are common benign cutaneous pathological fibrous proliferation diseases, which are difficult to cure and easily recur. Studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) was enhanced in pathological fibrous proliferation diseases, such as cirrhosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), suggesting the FGFR1 pathway has potential for keloid treatment. Derazantinib is a selective FGFR inhibitor with antiproliferative activity in in vitro and in vivo models. The present study determined the effects of derazantinib on human keloid fibroblasts (KFs). Cell viability assay, migration assay, invasion assay, immunofluorescence staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, HE staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical analysis were used to analyze the KFs and keloid xenografts. In this study, we found that derazantinib inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and collagen production of KFs in vitro. The transcription and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which is closely related to collagen deposition and tissue fibrosis, was significantly inhibited. Also, derazantinib inhibited the expression of FGFR1 and PAI-1 and reduced the weight of the implanted keloid from the xenograft mice model. These findings suggest that derazantinib may be a potent therapy for keloids via FGFR signaling.