title: Bleomycin increases steady-state levels of type I collagen, fibronectin and decorin mRNAs in human skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Bleomycin is a drug capable of inducing tissue fibrosis. In this study, the effects of bleomycin on gene expression of extracellular matrix encoding alpha1(I) collagen, fibronectin and decorin were determined in vitro in human dermal fibroblasts. Northern blot analysis showed that bleomycin upregulated alpha(I) collagen, fibronectin and decorin gene expression dose-dependently between 1 nM and 1 microM. Bleomycin at 100 nM upregulated alpha1(I) collagen, fibronectin and decorin mRNA expression with a peak at 6 h following stimulation in normal skin fibroblast monolayers. Bleomycin enhanced mRNA expression encoding these extracellular matrix proteins in both normal dermal and scleroderma fibroblasts. Concomitant stimulation with bleomycin and interferon-gamma (1,000 U/ml), a representative antifibrotic cytokine, decreased alpha1(I) collagen mRNA expression. Bleomycin also mildly upregulated mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) coordinately in normal skin fibroblasts. Our results indicate that bleomycin modulates gene expression of extracellular matrix proteins in dermal fibroblasts, and this effect may be mediated by TGF-beta and CTGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, School of Medicine, Japan. yamamoto.derm@med.tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eckes
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C546878:DCN protein, human; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001761:Bleomycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen