IL-1 rescues scleroderma myofibroblasts from serum-starvation-induced cell death

Normal senescent adult human fibroblasts are relatively insensitive to the effects of serum deprivation in culture. In contrast, the myofibroblast phenotype, which is predominant in scleroderma-affected skin and cultured fibroblasts from scleroderma-affected skin, shows signs of deterioration within 3 days of serum starvation. The addition of IL-1 (5 ng/ml) prevents this deterioration. We propose that IL-1 is a factor promoting myofibroblast longevity with consequent fibrosis in scleroderma skin.