COLLAGEN TYPE XVI EXPRESSION IS MODULATED BY BASIC FIBROBLAST-GROWTH-FACTOR AND TRANSFORMING-GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA

We investigated the effects of bFGF and TGF-beta on the expression of type XVI collagen, a member of the fibril associated collagen family, in human dermal fibroblasts and arterial smooth muscle cells. We found that bFGF decreased the alpha 1(XVI) collagen mRNA to 18-24% of the c ontrols, while TGF-beta increased the mRNA to 150-360%, Immunoprecipit ation of metabolically labeled cells revealed corresponding, but less pronounced, changes at the protein levels. The results suggested that type XVI collagen expression is regulated by bFGF and TGF-beta in a ma nner similar to their regulation of the major type I fibrillar collage n produced bg these cells. (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.