Effect of integrin on procollagen synthesis by fibroblasts from scleroderma

To investigate the effect of integrin on fibroblasts from scleroderma in the production of procollagen. Phosphorothioate modified antisense oligonucleotides were used to interfere with the expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit on fibroblasts from 10 cases of scleroderma, and then the changes of procollagen mRNA due to the decline in level of integrin were observed by using RT-PCR. Expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit was specifically inhibited by their corresponding antisense oligonucleotides. Fibroblasts with 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. Overproduction of procollagen may be inhibited at the level of transcription by lowering the expression of integrin alpha 5 or beta 1 subunit on fibroblasts in scleroderma.