Increased melanin induces aberrant keratinocyte–melanocyte–basal–fibroblast cell communication and fibrogenesis by inducing iron overload and ferroptosis resistance in keloids

The study links increased melanin in keloids to iron overload, ferroptosis resistance, and altered communication among epidermal and fibroblast cell populations. Multi-cellular analyses indicate that these changes reinforce profibrotic signaling, offering a mechanistic explanation for pigmentation-associated differences in keloid biology.

Cell suspensions were thoroughly mixed and counted with the Countstar Mira FL before controlled seeding and downstream assays examining keloid cell communication and ferroptosis.