title: CTRP6 inhibits fibrogenesis in TGF-β1-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Skin fibrosis is characterized by excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and overproduction of extracellular matrix (ECM). C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 6 (CTRP6), a member of CTRPs, has been involved in the development of cardiac fibrosis. However, the function and detailed regulatory mechanism of CTRP6 in skin fibrosis remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CTRP6 on the activation of human dermal fibroblasts. Our results showed that CTRP6 was lowly expressed in scar tissues and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-treated dermal fibroblasts. CTRP6 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, as well as suppressed the expression of ECM in TGF-β1-treated dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, CTRP6 overexpression markedly inhibited TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad3 in dermal fibroblasts. In conclusion, the data reported here demonstrate that CTRP6 is able to inhibit the proliferation and ECM expression in human dermal fibroblasts through suppressing the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that CTRP6 may be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of skin fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China. Electronic address: fan_ronghuixa@163.com.
authors.forename: Rong-Hui
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
authors.forename: Yao-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetology Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Zi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
authors.forename: Hang-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710068, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; C561455:C1qTNF6 protein, human; D024042:Collagen Type I; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D003094:Collagen
keywords: C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 6 (CTRP6); Dermal fibroblast; Extracellular matrix (ECM); Skin fibrosis