Papulonodular mucinosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: possible mechanisms of increased glycosaminoglycan accumulation.
BACKGROUND
The mechanism for the production of papulonodular mucinosis in patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) is not known.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether fibroblasts in a patient with LE and papulonodular mucinosis produced more mucin than normal fibroblasts and whether this mucin production could be stimulated by the patient's serum.


METHODS
Skin fibroblasts from a patient with systemic LE and massive papulonodular mucin deposition, as well as normal fibroblasts, were incubated in the presence of serum from the patient or from a healthy volunteer. The production of glycosaminoglycan by fibroblasts was analyzed.


RESULTS
Fibroblasts from the patient produced more glycosaminoglycan than did normal fibroblasts. Glycosaminoglycan production was increased in all cells when incubated in the presence of the patient's serum.


CONCLUSIONS
Cutaneous mucin deposition in patients with papulonodular LE skin lesions is associated with increased glycosaminoglycan production by dermal fibroblasts. Our preliminary observations suggest glycosaminoglycan production by these fibroblasts appears to be stimulated by a factor, (or factors) in the patient's serum that is yet to be identified.
Pandya
A G
AG
Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9069.
Sontheimer
R D
RD
Cockerell
C J
CJ
Takashima
A
A
Piepkorn
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D017520:Mucinoses / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D009077:Mucins