title: Follistatin-like protein-1 is a novel proinflammatory molecule.
abstract: While analyzing gene expression in collagen-induced arthritis, we discovered that a poorly characterized gene, follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1), is highly overexpressed in mouse paws during early arthritis, especially at the interface of synovial pannus and eroding bone. In this study, we show that FSTL-1 is a novel proinflammatory molecule with a previously unrecognized role in inflammation. Transfection of FSTL-1 into macrophages and fibroblasts leads to up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Overexpression of FSTL-1 in mouse paws by gene transfer results in severe paw swelling and arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamae
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Marinov
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sowders
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Devlin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins; C448799:FSTL1 protein, human