Expression of pro-inflammatory markers by human dermal fibroblasts in a three-dimensional culture model is mediated by an autocrine interleukin-1 loop.

ABSTRACT: In vivo, fibroblasts reside in connective tissues, with which they communicate in a reciprocal way. Such cell--extracellular matrix interactions can be studied in vitro by seeding fibroblasts in collagen lattices. Depending upon the mechanical properties of the system, fibroblasts are activated to assume defined phenotypes. In the present study, we examined a transcriptional profile of primary human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a relaxed collagen environment and found relative induction (>2-fold) of 393 out of approx. 7100 transcripts when compared with the same system under mechanical tension. Despite down-regulated proliferation and matrix synthesis, cells did not become generally quiescent, since they induced transcription of numerous other genes including matrix metalloproteinases (M

SUBMITTER: Kessler-Becker D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1224070 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature