title: Inhibition of connective tissue growth factor/CCN2 expression in human dermal fibroblasts by interleukin-1alpha and beta.
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) is a matricellular protein induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and intimately involved with tissue repair and overexpressed in various fibrotic conditions. We previously showed that keratinocytes in vitro downregulate TGF-beta-induced expression of CTGF in fibroblasts by an interleukin (IL)-1 alpha-dependent mechanism. Here, we investigated further the mechanisms of this downregulation by both IL-1alpha and beta. Human dermal fibroblasts and NIH 3T3 cells were treated with IL-1alpha or beta in presence or absence of TGF-beta1. IL-1 suppressed basal and TGF-beta-induced CTGF mRNA and protein expression. IL-1alpha and beta inhibited TGF-beta-stimulated CTGF promoter activity, and the activity of a synthetic minimal promoter containing Smad 3-binding CAGA elements. Furthermore, IL-1alpha and beta inhibited TGF-beta-stimulated Smad 3 phosphorylation, possibly linked to an observed increase in Smad 7 mRNA expression. In addition, RNA interference suggested that TGF-beta activated kinase1 (TAK1) is necessary for IL-1 inhibition of TGF-beta-stimulated CTGF expression. These results add to the understanding of how the expression of CTGF in human dermal fibroblasts is regulated, which in turn may have implications for the pathogenesis of fibrotic conditions involving the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Plastic Surgery Unit, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. daniel.nowinski@akademiska.se
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowinski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiwanuka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boström
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerdin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivarsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D000099151:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 7
chemical_list: D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000099151:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 7