Additionally, compared with the corresponding negative control, the expressions of stem-like keratinocytes-associated markers CD44 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) increased significantly in miR-21-5p mimic transfected keloid keratinocytes (Fig. 5c, P = 0.0311 and P = 0.0175) and decreased in miR-21-5p inhibitor transfected keloid keratinocytes (Fig. 5c, P = 0.0226 and P = 0.014, respectively). Here, CD44 is linked to keloid.