[mRNA expression of procollagen and SMADs in lesional skin of progressive systemic sclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mRNA expression of type I and type III procollagen and SMADs in the lesional skin of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and analyze the role in pathogenesis of scleroderma thereof.


METHODS
Real time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of type I and type III procollagen, and SMADs (SMAD 2, SMAD 3, SMAD 4, and SMAD 7) in the lesional skin specimens of 11 patients with PSS and 11 specimens of normal skin.


RESULTS
Type I procollagen alpha1, type III procollagen alpha1, SMAD 4, and SMAD 7 were expressed at the mRNA level significantly higher in the lesional skin tissues of the PSS patients than in the normal skin tissues (all P < 0.05). SMAD 4 mRNA expression was positively correlated with type I procollagen alpha1 mRNA expression (r = 0.728, P < 0.05) and the type III procollagen alpha1 mRNA expression (r = 0.678, P < 0.05). SMAD3 mRNA expression was positively correlated with the type I procollagen alpha1 mRNA expression (r = 0.859, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased SMAD4 mRNA in the lesional skin of systemic sclerosis is positively correlation with increased type I and type III procollagen alpha1 mRNA expression and may be one of the main pathogenesis in resulting in excessive type I and type III collagen accumulation in PSS lesional skin.
Yu
Hai-Yan
HY
Department of Dermatology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical College, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Li
Hua
H
Chen
Da-fang
DF
Cheng
Hao
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D024042:Collagen Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051785:Smad Proteins