Impaired collagen gel contraction with cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis

We investigated the capacity of skin fibroblasts, derived from 9 patients w ith systemic sclerosis (SSc), to contract collagen lattices in a three-dime nsional culture system. In comparison with control fibroblasts (N = 8), mon than 30% of SSc fibroblasts exhibited markedly impaired ability to contrac t collagen lattices. The expression of alpha 2 beta 1 integrins and integri n-mediated signals were not significantly different between normal and SSc fibroblasts. Although the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined, ou r present data provide evidence that certain aspects of interaction with co llagen are impaired in SSc fibroblasts.