title: ALK5 inhibition blocks TGFβ-induced CCN1 expression in human foreskin fibroblasts.
abstract: The potent profibrotic cytokine TGFβ induces connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) is induced in fibroblasts in a fashion sensitive to SB-431542, a specific pharmacological inhibitor of TGFβ type I receptor (ALK5). In several cell types, TGFβ induces CCN1 but suppresses CCN3, which opposes CCN1/CCN2 activities. However, whether SB-431542 alters TGFβ-induced CCN1 or CCN3 in human foreskin fibroblasts in unclear. Here we show that TGFβ induces CCN1 but suppresses CCN3 expression in human foreskin fibroblasts in a SB-431542-sensitive fashion. These results emphasize that CCN1/CCN2 and CCN3 are reciprocally regulated and support the notion that blocking ALK5 or addition of CCN3 may be useful anti-fibrotic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5C1.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murphy-Marshman
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leask