Upregulated Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-ß Receptors in Dermal Fibroblasts of Skin Sections from Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

MASAHIDE KUBO, HIRONOBU IHN, KENICHI YAMANE, and KUNIHIKO TAMAKI

ABSTRACT.

Objective. To investigate the expression levels of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) receptors in the skin of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Method. We examined expressions of TGF-ß type I and type II receptors (TGF-ßRI and TGF-ßRII) in skin sections of 5 patients with SSc and 5 healthy controls using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analysis.

Results. The expression levels of both TGF-ßRI and TGF-ßRII were elevated in the dermal fibroblasts of skin sections from patients with SSc in comparison to control skin sections in in situ hybridization and in immunohistochemical stainings. The numbers of fibroblasts expressing TGF-ßRI and TGF-ßRII in the SSc skin sections were increased in comparison to controls. The inflammatory cells around the vessels also expressed TGF-ßRI and TGF-ßRII intensively in the SSc skin sections.

Conclusion. These results suggest that the autocrine TGF-ß signaling due to the overexpression of TGF-ßRI and TGF-ßRII in dermal fibroblasts is involved in the pathogenesis of dermal fibrosis in patients with SSc. (J Rheumatol 2002;29:2558-64)

Key Indexing Terms:

FIBROSIS
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION
IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION
IMMUNOSTAININGS
TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-ß

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From the Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

M. Kubo, MD; H. Ihn, MD, PhD; K. Yamane, MD; K. Tamaki, MD, PhD.

Address reprint requests to Dr. H. Ihn, Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. E-mail: IN-DER@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Submitted February 20, 2002; revision accepted June 6, 2002.

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