Yonsei Med J.  1999 Oct;40(5):490-495. 10.3349/ymj.1999.40.5.490.

Regulation of type I collagen and interstitial collagenase mRNA expression in human dermal fibroblasts by colchicine and D-penicillamine

• Chung KY
• Kang DS

• KMID: 711684
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1999.40.5.490

Abstract

Sclerosis is a disease process in which idiopathic hardening occurs in the skin and/or internal organs as a result of the accumulation of type I collagen, induced mainly by transforming growth factor-beta. Colchicine and D-penicillamine are widely used for its treatment. Their effects are known to be due to post-translational down-regulation of type I collagen synthesis, with colchicine also up-regulating interstitial collagenase. To determine whether or not they have any pre-translational effect on type I collagen and MMP-1, and also to observe their effects on the action of TGF-beta, cultured neonatal foreskin fibroblasts were treated with colchicine and D-penicillamine, singly and together. The amount of type I collagen and MMP-1 mRNA were quantitated by Northern blot hybridization. Colchicine suppresses the basal level of type I collagen mRNA but minimally stimulates the mRNA expression of MMP-1, whereas D-penicillamine does not have any significant effects on either. Colchicine was also able to significantly suppress the TGF-beta-induced up-regulation of type I collagen mRNA expression.

Keyword

Sclerosis; type I collagen; interstitial collagenase; mRNA; TGF-beta; colchicine; D-penicillamine

MeSH Terms

Cells, Cultured
Colchicine/pharmacology*
Collagen/genetics*
Fibroblasts/metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects*
Human
Interstitial Collagenase/genetics*
Penicillamine/pharmacology*
RNA, Messenger/analysis*
Skin/metabolism
Skin/cytology
Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology