Enhanced expression of the receptor for granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor on dermal fibroblasts from scleroderma patients
Postiglione, L.; Montagnani, S.; Riccio, A.; Montuori, N.; Sciorio, S.; Ladogana, P.; Spigna, G.Di.; Castaldo, C.; Rossi, G.
Journal of Rheumatology 29(1): 94-101
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 11824978 Document Number: 546368
Objective: To elucidate events that initiate the involvement and stimulation of fibroblasts in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: We examined 15 patients with SSc diffuse form, 15 with CREST syndrome, and 5 healthy subjects. Cultured fibroblasts obtained from skin biopsies in SSc involved and non-involved areas and normal skin fibroblasts were cultured with different doses of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to study the effects of this factor on the expression of GM-CSF receptor (GM-CSFR) on fibroblast proliferation and cellular adhesion structures. Results: Cultured fibroblasts obtained from biopsies of normal and SSc skin areas express GM-CSFR and such expression is increased in SSc fibroblasts. GM-CSF stimulation in vitro did not increase SSc fibroblast growth, in spite of a strongly increased expression of the GM-CSFR. The adhesion structures are always more abundant in SSc fibroblasts as compared to healthy cells and GM-CSF seems able to increase cell adhesion plaques. Conclusion: We suggest that shift of fibroblasts toward a more adhesive differentiated pattern, due to or accompanied by an increased expression of GM-CSFR, may be an important event in the pathogenesis of SSc.