Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining susceptibility to keloid formation. These determine susceptibility based on comparison of gene expression in a patient of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is decreased in a sample representative of gene expression in the patient compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this is indicative of a susceptibility to keloid formation.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining susceptibility to keloid formation. These determine susceptibility based on comparison of gene expression in a patient of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is increased in a sample representative of gene expression in the patient compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this is indicative of a susceptibility to keloid formation.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining whether a scar of interest is keloid or non-keloid in nature. These determine keloid or non-keloid nature based on comparison of gene expression in the scar of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is decreased in a sample representative of gene expression in the scar of interest compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this indicates that the scar of interest comprises a keloid.

Abstract: Provided are methods, kits and arrays for use in determining whether a scar of interest is keloid or non-keloid in nature. These determine keloid or non-keloid nature based on comparison of gene expression in the scar of interest with expression in a control sample. If expression of at least one gene, selected from the group of genes set out in Table 1, is increased in a sample representative of gene expression in the scar of interest compared to expression of the same gene (or genes) in the control sample this indicates that the scar of interest comprises a keloid.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of an antagonist of CXCL 13 or CXCR5 activity in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or inhibition of pathological scarring; as well as the use of such antagonists in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or inhibition of fibrotic disorders; and the use of such antagonists in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of a chronic wound. Medicaments or methods of the invention are particularly suitable for use in keloids or venous ulcers. Suitable antagonists of CXCL13 or CXCR5 activity may be any compound capable of inhibiting the CXCL13/CXCR5 signalling pathway. The invention also provides a model of aberrant wound healing, which may lead to pathological scar formation, or to chronic wound formation.