title: Analysis of collagen gene expression by cultured fibroblasts in morphoea.
abstract: Collagen gene expression was studied in dermal fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory and sclerotic skin lesions of patients with localized or generalized morphoea. The levels of mRNA for type I collagen in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions were higher than those obtained from the uninvolved skin, whereas those fibroblasts obtained from sclerotic lesions were unaltered. No alteration in type I collagen mRNA levels was observed in late-passage fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory lesions. The relative rate of collagen to total protein synthesis in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions was higher than that of fibroblasts from uninvolved skin, while no alteration or a slight decrease was observed in fibroblasts from the sclerotic lesions. The data suggest that the inflammatory reactions induce increased collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in the skin in scleroderma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatamochi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueki
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005353:Fibronectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003094:Collagen