title: Attenuation of the transforming growth factor beta-signaling pathway in chronic venous ulcers.
abstract: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is important in inflammation, angiogenesis, reepithelialization and connective tissue regeneration during wound healing. We analyzed components of TGFbeta signaling pathway in biopsies from 10 patients with nonhealing venous ulcers (VUs). Using comparative genomics of transcriptional profiles of VUs and TGFbeta-treated keratinocytes, we found deregulation of TGFbeta target genes in VUs. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemical analysis, we found suppression of TGFbeta RI, TGFbeta RII and TGFbeta RIII, and complete absence of phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) in VU epidermis. In contrast, pSmad2 was induced in the cells of the migrating epithelial tongue of acute wounds. TGFbeta-inducible transcription factors (GADD45beta , ATF3 and ZFP36L1) were suppressed in VUs. Likewise, genes suppressed by TGFbeta (FABP5, CSTA and S100A8) were induced in nonhealing VUs. An inhibitor of Smad signaling, Smad7 was also downregulated in VUs. We conclude that TGFbeta signaling is functionally blocked in VUs by downregulation of TGFbeta receptors and attenuation of Smad signaling resulting in deregulation of TGFbeta target genes and consequent hyperproliferation. These data suggest that application of exogenous TGFbeta may not be a beneficial treatment for VUs.
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine Research Program, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, United States of America.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastar
authors.forename: Olivera
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stojadinovic
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barrientos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stuelten
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blumenberg
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brem
authors.forename: Marjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomic-Canic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051785:Smad Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta