Scleroderma fibroblasts constitutively express the long pentraxin PTX3.
OBJECTIVE
PTX3 is a secreted molecule which consists of a C-terminal domain similar to classical pentraxins (e.g. C-reactive protein) and of an unrelated N-terminal domain. Unlike the classical pentraxins, PTX3 is expressed in response to IL-1beta and TNF-alpha but not to IL-6. The present study was designed to investigate the expression of PTX3 in normal and scleroderma fibroblasts.


METHODS
Normal and SSc fibroblasts were cultured in the presence and absence of inflammatory cytokines. PTX3 mRNA expression in fibroblasts was evaluated by Northern analysis. PTX3 protein levels in fibroblast culture medium were estimated by ELISA.


RESULTS
Normal fibroblasts were induced to express high levels of P7X3 mRNA by IL-1beta and TNF-alpha but not by other cytokines or growth factors. Scleroderma fibroblasts, unlike normal fibroblasts, constitutively expressed high levels of PTX3 in the absence of deliberate stimulation. The constitutive expression of PTX3 in SSc fibroblasts was not modified by anti-TNF-alpha antibodies or IL-1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta inhibited the constitutive but not the stimulated expression of PTX3 in SSc fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
PTX3 is a main feature of activated scleroderma fibroblasts.
Luchetti
M M
MM
Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale, Ematologia ed Immunologia Clinica, Univer- sità Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Sambo
P
P
Majlingová
P
P
Svegliati Baroni
S
S
Peri
G
G
Paroncini
P
P
Introna
M
M
Stoppacciaro
A
A
Mantovani
A
A
Gabrielli
A
A
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099153:Pentraxins