Transcriptional control of human diploid fibroblast collagen synthesis by gamma-interferon

Recombinant gamma-interferon (rec gamma-IFN) caused potent inhibition of collagen synthesis by cultured confluent human diploid fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Gel electrophoresis of the newly synthesized proteins from the culture media of rec gamma-IFN-treated fibroblasts demonstrated a selective depression of procollagen without a significant change in non-collagenous proteins. Dot blot hybridization to a Type I procollagen cDNA probe showed that the inhibition of collagen production was accompanied by a decrease in the levels of collagen mRNA. These results indicate that rec gamma-IFN is capable of exerting transcriptional modulation of collagen biosynthesis and suggest that it may play an important role in regulation of normal and pathologic fibrogenesis.