title: Dexamethasone decreases the amounts of type I procollagen mRNAs in vivo and in fibroblast cell cultures.
abstract: Dexamethasone treatment of neonatal chicks resulted in a time- and dose-dependent selective decrease of skin collagen synthesis. Total RNA of chick skin was isolated and hybridized to the cloned cDNAs pCg54 for pro-alpha 1 (I) mRNA and pCg45 for pro-alpha 2(I) mRNA. RNA isolated from the total skin of chicks receiving various doses of dexamethasone had dose-related decreases of pro-alpha 1 (I) and pro-alpha 2(I) mRNAs. The decrease of type I procollagen mRNAs for various doses of dexamethasone were similar to the decreases observed for collagen synthesis in vivo. Dexamethasone treatment of chick skin and chick lung fibroblasts resulted in a selective decrease of procollagen synthesis. A dose-related decrease of procollagen synthesis was observed with chick skin fibroblasts. Dexamethasone-treated chick skin and chick lung fibroblasts had decreased levels of pro-alpha 1 (I) and pro-alpha 2(I) mRNAs as determined by solid support hybridization with pCg54 and pCg45. The dexamethasone-mediated decreases of type I procollagen mRNAs in skin fibroblasts and lung fibroblasts were similar to the decreases observed in procollagen synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011347:Procollagen / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone