Growth Factors in Biology and Medicine. Ciba Foundation Symposium 116

collagen molecule, the most abundant protein in the fibrotic matrix. Describing the synthesis of the interstitial collagens, Types I and III, de Crombrugghe et al. outline the complex series of translocation and splicing events that ultimately lead to the transcription of the chick a2(I), oal(I) and al(III) collagen genes. Kivirikko and Majamaa explore the regulation of post-translational modification of collagen synthesis. Several papers are devoted to factors such as cell topography, host immunity, and chemoattractants, which might affect fibroblast activity and matrix component synthesis. Papers by Krane and by Vaheri et al. focus on turnover and degradation of collagen and fibronectin, respectively. Disease entities specifically examined include pulmonary, hepatic, autoimmune, and post-traumatic fibrosis. Unfortunately, many aspects of fibrosis are neglected in this volume. For instance, only one paper is devoted to fibronectin; other matrix proteins beside collagen Types I and III and fibronectin are not commented upon. In addition, very little attention is devoted to animal models for fibrosis. Still, the material assembled in this Ciba Symposium would be valuable to most clinicians and scientists and would be an asset to the study of connective tissue disease.