Increased type I collagen mRNA levels in cultured scleroderma fibroblasts

Pro alpha 1(I)collagen mRNA levels in fibroblasts cultured from affected and non-affected skin areas of two scleroderma patients were measured by hybridization of RNA blots with a specific cDNA clone. Collagen synthesis was estimated with an inhibition ELISA for type I collagen and with densitometric scans of fluorograms of [3H]proline-labelled medium proteins. Affected scleroderma fibroblasts exhibited 2-7-fold higher levels of pro alpha 1(I)collagen mRNAs to account for the increased synthesis of collagen by the same cells. This suggests that the control of collagen synthesis in scleroderma is altered at transcriptional level.