INVOLVEMENT OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR IN FIBROBLAST-STIMULATORY SERUM ACTIVITY OF A PATIENT WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS AND MULTIPLE DERMATOFIBROMAS

Background: Multiple dermatofibromas (DFs) are often associated with s ystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). An increased number of mast cells i s observed in the upper portion or over the lesion of DF. Objective: T o investigate the role of the serum of a patient with multiple DFs, we examined its growth effects on fibroblasts. Method: H-3-Thymidine inc orporation was used to examine the effects of the serum of an SLE pati ent with multiple DFs on fibroblasts derived from DF and normal skin. Results: The serum of the SLE patient with multiple DFs exhibited a st ronger growth-stimulatory activity on normal and DF-derived fibroblast s in a dose-dependent manner, compared to that of SLE without DFs or n ormal sera. The growth effects were inhibited in 40% by antiplatelet-d erived-growth-factor antibody and almost completely inhibited by antib ody against basic fibroblast growth factor. Cultured fibroblasts deriv ed from the upper portion of the DF lesion, which included most of the numerous mast cells, demonstrated a higher level of H-3-thymidine upt ake after stimulation of autologous serum compared to that from the mi d and lower portions of DF. Conclusion: These results suggested the ex istence of various fibroblast growth factors derived from the mast cel ls in SLE patients with multiple DFs.