title: Establishment and gene expression analysis of disease-derived induced pluripotent stem cells of scleroderma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We recently generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from cultured dermal fibroblasts of systemic sclerosis (SSc-iPSC) to study the disease mechanisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we have performed gene expression analysis using cultured SSc dermal fibroblasts, SSc-iPSC, and fibroblasts re-differentiated from SSc-iPSC (SSc-iPSC-FB).
  
  
  METHODS
  mRNA and protein levels of collagen and integrins were analyzed using PCR array, PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared expression pattern of TGF-β-related genes between normal iPSC (NS-iPSC) and SSc-iPSC by PCR array, and found constitutive and significant down-regulation of S100A8, Smad6, and TGF-β2 in SSc-iPSC. The expression of these genes was not altered in cultured SSc fibroblasts or SSc-iPSC-FB compared to NS fibroblasts or NS-iPSC-FB, respectively. On the other hand, the expression of collagen, integrin α and β was up-regulated in SSc fibroblasts, while SSc-iPSC-FB showed normalized levels of collagen and integrin β.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  So far, there have been no reports investigating disease-derived iPSCs of SSc. Our results suggest that S100A8, Smad6, and TGF-β2 may be the key molecules of this disease. On the other hand, the normalization of collagen and integrins by iPSC reprogramming suggests that epigenetic modifications of genes may play a role in the mechanism of collagen accumulation seen in SSc fibroblasts, and that gene reprogramming may become novel therapeutic approach. As the limitation of this study, we established only one iPSC line from each patient, which may not be enough to discuss disease-specific phenotypes. Larger studies including increased number of iPSC lines are needed in the future.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Zhongzhi
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Kayo
authors: K
authors: Nakamura
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan. Electronic address: mjin@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors: Masatoshi
authors: M
authors: Jinnin
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Kudo
authors: Department of Cell Modulation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
authors: Mizuki
authors: M
authors: Goto
authors: Department of Cell Modulation, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.
authors: Takumi
authors: T
authors: Era
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Kira
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Taiji
authors: T
authors: Nakashima
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Fukushima
authors: Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
authors: Hironobu
authors: H
authors: Ihn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D040501:Calgranulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051905:Smad6 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018821:CD18 Antigens; D040501:Calgranulin A; C497802:SMAD6 protein, human; D051905:Smad6 Protein; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Induced pluripotent stem cells; Systemic sclerosis