Decreased integrin alpha 2, but normal response to TGF-beta in scleroderma fibroblasts

The distribution and amount of integrin alpha2 were studied in cultured fibroblasts from normal subjects and scleroderma patients by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting using a monoclonal antibody against the human integrin alpha2 subunit. Integrin alpha2 was concentrated at the perinuclear regions in a dot-like pattern in normal fibroblasts on the glass coverslips until the 14th day after planting, and the staining pattern of integrin alpha2 was gradually changed to a dispersed dot-like pattern by the 19th day as examined by immunofluorescence microscopy by using the anti-integrin alpha2 antibody. No difference was observed in the distribution patterns between normal and scleroderma fibroblasts. By immunoblotting study, the amount of integrin alpha2 in scleroderma fibroblasts (n = 10) was less than that of normal fibroblasts (n = 10) (P < 0.01) in both cytosol and cytoskeleton-associated fractions. Furthermore, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) increased the amount of integrin alpha2 in both normal fibroblasts and scleroderma cells by 33%. The total amount of integrin alpha2 in TGF-beta-stimulated scleroderma fibroblasts was less than that in TGF-beta-stimulated normal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that the amount of integrin alpha2, a collagen receptor, is reduced in scleroderma fibroblasts, but the integrin alpha2 production by TGF-beta stimulation is not impaired in scleroderma fibroblasts.