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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Primary Dermal Fibroblasts from Human Keloid Tissue
Published on: July 28, 2023
The effect of imatinib (Glivec) on scleroderma and normal dermal fibroblasts: a preclinical study
A Soria1, M Cario-André, S Lepreux
1INSERM U876, University Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France.
Background:
Scleroderma skin overexpresses the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta-subunit (PDGFR-beta) in dermal vessels and PDGFR-beta messenger RNA in cultured fibroblasts. Moreover, increased levels of PDGF and stimulatory autoantibodies to PDGFR have been identified in the serum of scleroderma patients.
Objective:
Imatinib being an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase receptors such as PDGFR, its effect on scleroderma fibroblasts was evaluated in vitro as a preclinical therapeutic step.
Methods:
The effect of imatinib on fibroblasts grown from normal or involved/uninvolved scleroderma skin was studied by Western blot and the methyltetrazolium test. The pattern of distribution of PDGFR-beta in scleroderma versus normal skin was studied by immunohistochemistry.
Results:
In vitro, imatinib inhibited the proliferation of normal dermal and scleroderma fibroblasts at least partly via the inhibition of the phosphorylation of PDGFR. PDGFR-beta was expressed in the epidermis and adnexae in 5 lesional scleroderma biopsies and not in controls.
Conclusion:
This study suggests that imatinib can serve as therapy to limit dermal fibroblast proliferation in scleroderma.
