title: Hypoxia induces expression of connective tissue growth factor in scleroderma skin fibroblasts.
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a role in the fibrotic process of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Because hypoxia is associated with fibrosis in several profibrogenic conditions, we investigated whether CTGF expression in SSc fibroblasts is regulated by hypoxia. Dermal fibroblasts from patients with SSc and healthy controls were cultured in the presence of hypoxia or cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)), a chemical inducer of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha. Expression of CTGF was evaluated by Northern and Western blot analyses. Dermal fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia (1% O(2)) or CoCl(2) (1-100 microM) enhanced expression of CTGF mRNA. Skin fibroblasts transfected with HIF-1alpha showed the increased levels of CTGF protein and mRNA, as well as nuclear staining of HIF-1alpha, which was enhanced further by treatment of CoCl(2). Simultaneous treatment of CoCl(2) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta additively increased CTGF mRNA in dermal fibroblasts. Interferon-gamma inhibited the TGF-beta-induced CTGF mRNA expression dose-dependently in dermal fibroblasts, but they failed to hamper the CoCl(2)-induced CTGF mRNA expression. In addition, CoCl(2) treatment increased nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB binding activity for CTGF mRNA, while decreasing IkappaBalpha expression in dermal fibroblasts. Our data suggest that hypoxia, caused possibly by microvascular alterations, up-regulates CTGF expression through the activation of HIF-1alpha in dermal fibroblasts of SSc patients, and thereby contributes to the progression of skin fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: S-A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: S-S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: J-J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: W-U
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C-S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003035:Cobalt; C018021:cobaltous chloride