title: Rosiglitazone alleviates the persistent fibrotic phenotype of lesional skin scleroderma fibroblasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma plays an important role in controlling cell differentiation. The aim of the present study was to examine whether PPAR-gamma expression was reduced in skin scleroderma fibroblasts and whether PPAR-gamma agonists could suppress the persistent fibrotic phenotype of skin scleroderma fibroblasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermal fibroblasts were isolated from site-, age- and sex-matched healthy individuals and lesional areas of individuals with dcSSc. Western blot and collagen gel contraction analyses were used to detect protein expression in the presence or absence of the PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPAR-gamma expression was reduced in dcSSc fibroblasts. The PPAR-gamma agonist rosiglitazone alleviated the persistent fibrotic phenotype of dcSSc fibroblasts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rosiglitazone may alleviate the extent of fibrosis in dcSSc.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rheumatology, University College London (Royal Free Campus), London, UK.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi-wen
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratton
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leask
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D047495:PPAR gamma; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D000077154:Rosiglitazone