VARIABILITY IN COLLAGEN AND FIBRONECTIN SYNTHESIS BY SCLERODERMA FIBROBLASTS IN PRIMARY CULTURE

[摘要] Primary cultures of fibroblasts obtained from the papillary, reticular and s.c. layer of scleroderma skin were analyzed for protein synthesis by metabolic labeling and radioimmunoassay. Several cultures showed a 10-20-fold increase in the production of total protein collagen, fibronectin and type III procollagen as compared to cells from unaffected patients. Most increases were noted in the reticular and s.c. layers. With cells from other patients, increased synthesis was fond in some of the explants or for only some of the products. The heterogeneity observed could represent heterogeneity in the disease, in the cells studied or in the state of the disease at the time the cells were obtained.