Epidermal factors stimulate collagenase synthesis by epidermolysis bullosa fibroblasts.

Abstract

AbstractThe effect of epidermal factors on the collagenase activity of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) fibroblasts was examined. The epidermal extract obtained from a surgical scar strikingly stimulated the collagenase activity by fibroblasts to 2.55–3.07 U/ml (EB dystrophica recessiva, EBDR) and 1.67–2.03 U/ml (EB dystrophica dominans, EBDD), compared with 0.02–0.07 U/ml (EBDR) and 0–0.04 U/ml (EBDD) in the absence of the factor. Murine epidermal cell‐conditioned medium also enhanced the enzyme activity to 1.37–1.41 U/ml (EBDR) and 0.30–0.94 U/ml (EBDD). These results indicate that the epidermal factors, possibly interleukin‐1, may regulate collagenase metabolism in EB. Interleukin‐1‐positive cells were also observed immunohistochemically in the epidermis of EB. Therefore, the present data support the possibility that epidermis may be directly or indirectly involved in altering collagenase synthesis by EB fibroblasts.