Versican other inflammatory cells) can migrate more easily through extracellular matrix that has a higher versican content. Deposits of versican are not present in normal skin but are found in the reticular dermis during keloid scarring, a condition where scar formation becomes uncontrolled and overgrowth of skin tissue occurs at the site of the wound. Versican has been shown to interact with hyaluronan and a link protein (hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1; HAPLN1). Versican Versican is a large extracellular matrix proteoglycan that is present in a variety of human tissues. It is encoded by the "VCAN" gene. Versican is a
Scar free healing significant clinical burden which is why the scar free healing concept is of interest. Some of the problems in scar healing lie in the physical outcome of the process: for example when collagen is abnormally organised in scar tissue. In scars the collagen is arranged in parallel bundles of the collagen fibres whilst healthy scar free tissue has a "basket weave" structure (Figure 1). The difference in collagen arrangement along with a lack of difference in the dermal tissue when healing has taken place with or without scarring is indicative of regenerative failure of normal skin. Severe scarring resulting from