title: Epithelial cells promote fibroblast activation via IL-1alpha in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disorder of systemic and dermal fibrosis of uncertain etiology. Recently, we found that SSc epidermis is abnormal, taking on an activated phenotype observed during wound healing and tissue repair. As epithelial-fibroblast interactions are important during wound repair and in fibrosis in general, we investigated further the phenotype of the SSc epidermis, and tested whether the SSc epidermis provides a pro-fibrotic stimulus to fibroblasts. In this study we show that in SSc epidermis keratinocyte maturation is delayed, and wound-associated keratins 6 and 16 are induced, in both involved and clinically uninvolved skin. Phosphorylation array analysis revealed induction of stress-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and mesenchymal feedback through hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met in SSc epidermis. SSc epidermal cells maintained with normal fibroblasts in three-dimensional co-culture were found to stimulate fibroblasts, leading to contractility and connective tissue growth factor expression. These effects depend on elevation of IL-1alpha by the epidermal cells and induction of endothelin-1 and transforming growth factor-beta in fibroblasts. Antagonism of endogenous IL-1alpha using IL-1 receptor antagonist blocked gel contraction by SSc epidermis. We propose that in SSc, epidermal cells are in a persistently activated state and are able to promote dermal fibrosis. These findings are important because biologic therapies could target epithelial-fibroblast interactions in the disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Royal Free Hospital Campus, University College Medical School, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aden
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuttall
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shiwen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Winter
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leask
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stratton
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D053536:Keratin-16 / Q000378:metabolism; D053553:Keratin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D019332:Endothelin-1; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; C507431:KRT16 protein, human; D053536:Keratin-16; D053553:Keratin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met