Expression of stromal-derived factor-1 is decreased by IL-1 and TNF and indermal wound healing

Stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a CXC chemokine that is believed to be constitutively expressed by stromal cells of numerous tissues. In this repo rt, we demonstrate that dermal fibroblasts and vessels of noninflamed tissu es express SDF-1. Unexpectedly, we found that expression of SDF-1 is regula ted by inflammation. Expression of SDF-1 by primary cultures of human gingi val fibroblasts is potently inhibited by activated macrophages via secretio n of IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha. Levels of SDF-1 mRNA also decrease in acutel y inflamed mouse dermal wounds. We propose that SDF-1 functions as a homeos tatic regulator of tissue remodeling, whose expression stabilizes existing dermal architecture.