Soldano S, Montagna P, Villaggio B, Parodi A, Gianotti G, Sulli A, Seriolo B, Secchi ME, Cutolo M. Endothelin and sex hormones modulate the fibronectin synthesis by cultured human skin scleroderma fibroblasts.
Ann Rheum Dis 2008;
68:599-602. [PMID:
18952637 PMCID:
PMC2651484 DOI:
10.1136/ard.2008.097378]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the influence of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and sex hormones on cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis (ie, fibronectin, laminin) by cultured normal and scleroderma (SSc) human skin fibroblasts (FBs).
Methods:
Primary cultures of FBs were treated with ET-1 and sex hormones (17β-oestradiol or testosterone) for 24 h. Cell growth was analysed by methiltetrazolium salt test, ECM synthesis was evaluated by immunocytochemistry and western blot, both at 24 h.
Results:
In normal FBs, ET-1 and 17β-oestradiol, as well as their combination, increased cell growth (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.01 vs untreated cells (control), respectively) and fibronectin synthesis (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.01 vs control, respectively). By contrast, testosterone either alone or in combination with ET-1 did not influence cell proliferation, but decreased fibronectin synthesis (p<0.05, testosterone vs control). In SSc FBs, ET-1 and 17β-oestradiol alone or their combination induced an increased fibronectin synthesis (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.01 vs control, respectively). Unexpectedly, testosterone induced an increase of fibronectin synthesis (p<0.05 vs control).
Conclusions:
ET-1 and 17β-oestradiol seem to exert a profibrotic effect in normal and SSc culture FBs and might suggest their synergistic effect in the pathogenesis of the fibrotic process in SSc.
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