Replication and phenotypic expression of control and scleroderma human fibroblasts: responses to growth factors.
To explore the mechanism of increased collagen synthesis by scleroderma skin fibroblasts in vitro, control and scleroderma fibroblasts were compared in confluent monolayer cultures growth-arrested by serum deprivation; responses to optimal mitogenic doses of platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor were compared. Platelet-derived growth factor had a selective mitogenic effect on control skin fibroblasts not observed with scleroderma skin fibroblasts. None of the factors studied had a selective effect on collagen synthesis independent of cell replication; scleroderma and control fibroblasts responded similarly. Therefore, the growth factors studied may not be involved in generating the activated scleroderma fibroblast directly; platelet-derived growth factor may play an indirect role in fibroblast replication in human fibrotic disorders.U
D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D006133:Growth Substances; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010455:Peptides; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen