qRT-PCR validation of candidate genes.

Four candidate genes were chosen from each of the epidermis and dermis for validation by qRT-PCR. The bar graphs represent the qRT-PCR data for the microdissected keloid sites and normal skin and the line graph represents the associated microarray fold change in gene expression. In all cases the line graph follows the trend of the bar graph indicating the PCR reflects the microarray, thus validating the data. Data are presented as mean ± SEM and are from at least three independent experiments. For some of the genes there was no expression in normal skin and therefore for those genes no fold change for the qRT-PCR could be generated. In the interest of standardisation of all of the graphs they were then presented with the two axes. ADAM, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase; ADAMTS, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs; BMP2, bone morphogenetic protein 2; CD36, cluster of differentiation 36; COMP, cartilage oligomeric protein; NOTCH4, notch 4; WDR66, WD repeat domain 66.