Effect of integrin on procollagen synthesis by fibroblasts from scleroderma

Objective fibroblasts procollagen. To investigate the effect of integrin on from scleroderma in the production of Methods Phosphorothioate modified antisense oligonucleotides were used to i nterfere with the expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit on fibro blasts from 10 cases of scleroderma, and then the changes of procollagen mR NA due to the decline in level of integrin were observed by using RT-PCR. Results Expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit was specifically i nhibited by their corresponding antisense oligonucleotides. Fibroblasts wit h decreased expression of alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit produced lower level of procollagen alpha 1 (I), alpha 1 (III) mRNA in comparison to the control. Conclusion Overproduction of procollagen may be inhibited at the level of t ranscription by lowering the expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subun it on fibroblasts in scleroderma.