Collagen I and III mRNA gene expression and cell growth potential of skin fibroblasts in patients with essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the claimed disregulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and the increased proliferation rate of different cell types in experimental models of hypertension, very few data are available on collagen synthesis and the proliferation rate of fibroblasts in essential hypertensive patients.


METHODS
We measured collagen I, collagen III, histone H3 mRNA gene expression, collagen protein concentration and thymidine incorporation in fibroblasts from 17 essential hypertensive patients (EH) and 13 healthy normotensive control subjects (NC).


METHODS
A Northern blot analysis was performed on fibroblasts in culture obtained from skin biopsies. Collagen protein concentration and DNA synthesis were measured by means of incorporation of tritiated proline and tritiated thymidine, respectively.


RESULTS
In cultivated fibroblasts from hypertensives, the expression of collagen III mRNA after addition of fetal calf serum was significantly increased in comparison with that of normotensive-derived cells. After addition of fetal calf serum, collagen protein was statistically increased in cultures from EH patients as compared to NC. In hypertensives, the expression of histone H3 mRNA as well as tritiated thymidine incorporation were both increased as compared to normotensives.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that cultivated fibroblasts from essential hypertensive patients are characterized by an increased expression of type III collagen mRNA and collagen protein synthesis in response to fetal serum, as compared to normotensive-derived cells. Cells from hypertensives are characterized by an increased rate of proliferation after addition of fetal serum, as ascertained by increased thymidine incorporation and increased histone H3 mRNA gene expression, as compared to normotensive-derived cells. This phenotype could be genetically determined and may have an important role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.
Delva
Pietro
P
Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. pietro.delva@mail.univr.it
Lechi
Alessandro
A
Pastori
Caterina
C
Degan
Maurizio
M
Sheiban
Imad
I
Montesi
Germana
G
Pea
Maurizio
M
Meneguzzi
Alessandra
A
Menegazzi
Marta
M
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger