Smads regulate collagen gel contraction by human dermal fibroblasts.

K Sumiyoshi, A Nakao, Y Setoguchi, K Okumura, R Tsuboi, H Ogawa

Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.

The British journal of dermatology 2003 Sep

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Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta induces fibroblast contraction that is implicated in efficient wound healing. The Smad family of proteins mediates signal transduction of the TGF-beta superfamily. However, its role in fibroblast contraction remains unclear. To determine whether Smad proteins regulate fibroblast contraction. We used an in vitro type I collagen gel contraction assay with human dermal fibroblasts infected with adenoviruses carrying Smads. Overexpression of Smad3, a major signal transducer in the Smad family, enhanced collagen gel contraction by fibroblasts when compared with fibroblasts overexpressing a control lacZ. Addition of a very low concentration of TGF-beta1 that did not affect the collagen gel contraction by itself enhanced the contraction by fibroblasts overexpressing Smad3. In contrast, TGF-beta1-mediated collagen gel contraction was suppressed by overexpression of Smad7, a major inhibitory regulator in the Smad family, in fibroblasts. In addition, inhibitors of the Erk and p38 pathways, PD98059 and SB203580, did not affect TGF-beta1-mediated collagen gel contraction by dermal fibroblasts. Modulation of Smad3 or Smad7 expression in dermal fibroblasts affected their contraction of collagen gels possibly by regulating TGF-beta signalling in fibroblasts.

Citation

K Sumiyoshi, A Nakao, Y Setoguchi, K Okumura, R Tsuboi, H Ogawa. Smads regulate collagen gel contraction by human dermal fibroblasts. The British journal of dermatology. 2003 Sep;149(3):464-70