Replication and phenotypic expression of control and scleroderma human fibroblasts: responses to growth factors.

To explore the mechanism of increased collagen synthesis by scleroderma skin fibroblasts in vitro, control and scleroderma fibroblasts were compared in confluent monolayer cultures growth-arrested by serum deprivation; responses to optimal mitogenic doses of platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor were compared. Platelet-derived growth factor had a selective mitogenic effect on control skin fibroblasts not observed with scleroderma skin fibroblasts. None of the factors studied had a selective effect on collagen synthesis independent of cell replication; scleroderma and control fibroblasts responded similarly. Therefore, the growth factors studied may not be involved in generating the activated scleroderma fibroblast directly; platelet-derived growth factor may play an indirect role in fibroblast replication in human fibrotic disorders.U