Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex human disorder characterized by progressive skin fibrosis. To better understand the molecular basis of dermal fibrosis in SSc, we analyzed microarray gene expression in skin of the Tight-skin (Tsk) mouse, an animal model where skin fibrosis is caused by an in-frame duplication in fibrillin-1 (Fbn-1). Tsk skin showed increased mRNA levels of several genes involved in Wnt signaling, including Wnt2, Wnt9a, Wnt10b and Wnt11; Dapper homolog antagonist of beta-catenin (DACT1) and DACT2; Wnt-induced secreted protein 2; and secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP)2 and SFRP4. RNase protection and northern blot confirmed microarray results. Furthermore, Wnt3a markedly stimulated matrix assembly of microfibrillar proteins, including Fbn-1, by cultured fibroblasts, suggesting that Wnts contribute to increased microfibrillar matrices in Tsk skin. Further analysis showed that SFRP4 expression is specifically increased in tissues expressing Tsk-Fbn-1, such as skeletal muscle and skin. The increase in SFRP4 mRNA in Tsk skin started 2 weeks after birth, following the increase in Wnt2 mRNA that occurred at birth. This suggests that SFRP4 may modulate Wnt functions in Tsk skin fibrosis. Lesional skin from SSc patients also showed large increases in SFRP4 mRNA and protein levels in the deep dermis compared to healthy skin, suggesting that the Wnt pathway might regulate skin fibrosis in SSc.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are a family of Src homology 2-containing adaptor proteins. Cytokine-inducible Src homology domain 2-containing protein, SOCS1, SOCS2, and SOCS3 have been implicated in the down-regulation of cytokine signaling. The function of SOCS4, 5, 6, and 7 are not known. KIT receptor signaling is regulated by protein tyrosine phosphatases and adaptor proteins. We previously reported that SOCS1 inhibited cell proliferation in response to stem cell factor (SCF Cytokines and growth factors regulate the survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration of hematopoietic cells. Binding of these factors to transmembrane receptors induces receptor activation, which in turn results in the recruitment of signaling complexes in the vicinity of the plasma membrane. The kinetics and magnitude of signal transduction are tightly regulated by multiple mechanisms. Among proteins that modulate signaling, members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 family have been shown to down-regulate the function of cytokines or growth factors (1-3).The eight members of the SOCS family, SOCS1-7 and CIS (cytokine-inducible Src homology domain (SH2)-containing protein), are structurally characterized by a SH2 domain followed by a conserved C-terminal motif, the SOCS box (4). The N-terminal region of SOCS proteins is variable both in length and in the primary amino acid sequence. Although many reports including knock-out studies shed light on the function of CIS (5, 6), SOCS1 (7, 8), SOCS2 (9, 10), and SOCS3 (11-13), very little is known regarding the function of SOCS4, SOCS5, SOCS6, and SOCS7.The mechanisms whereby CIS, SOCS1, and SOCS3 inhibit signaling by classical cytokine receptor (i.e. receptors without catalytic activity that associate with JAK tyrosine kinases) are the best characterized. All three are involved in the downregulation of the JAK/STAT pathway. SOCS1 has a dual function as a direct potent JAK kinase inhibitor (14 -17) and as a component of an E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex recruiting substrates to the protein degradation machinery (18 -20). SOCS3 also inhibits JAK activity but indirectly through recruitment to the cytokine receptors (1, 21). More recently, SOCS3 has been suggested to compete with SHP2 for the same binding sites on glycoprotein 130 (22, 23), erythropoietin receptor (21), and leptin receptor (24). CIS binds to cytokine receptors at STAT5-docking sites, which impairs recruitment of STAT5 to the receptor signaling complex and results in the down-regulation of STAT5 activation (6,25).Mice lacking SOCS6 have been generated, and they developed normally with the exception of a 10% reduction in weight compared with wild-type littermates (26). SOCS6 mRNA was induced by erythropoietin in cell lines (27) and was ubiquitously expressed in murine tissues (26). SOCS6 does not interact with JAKs, but the interaction with elongins B and C suggests that, as all SOCS proteins, it might be part of an E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex (28). Yet, there is no evidence so far suggesti...

These findings suggest that TGFbeta upregulation of COMP and/or SMA expression in subpopulations of fibroblasts contributes to different pathways of fibrosis and that multiple TGFbeta regulated genes may serve as biomarkers for the degree of SSc skin involvement.

The conventional technique of impression cytology provides a non-invasive method for the evaluation of conjunctival epithelium alterations. Using indirect immunofluorescence procedures two inflammatory markers, class I MHC antigens HLA DR and the receptor to IgE (CD23), were sought in impression cytology specimens obtained from 80 patients. In normal subjects conjunctival epithelial cells did not show any reactivity. Only scattered dendritic cells were found to express class U antigens but not the receptor to IgE. In contrast patients with chronic conjunctivitis of various aetiologies, mainly infectious or allergic, had 40-100% of brightly positive conjunctival cells for one or both antigens. In these cases epithelial cells and goblet cells reacted similarly. Twenty four eyes in 12 patients with idiopathic dry eye syndrome disclosed results similar to those from normal conjunctival specimens. However 18 other specimens from patients suffering from idiopathic tear deficiency but undergoing multiple substitutive treatments for dry eye had moderate to strong positivity for HLA DR and/or the receptor to IgE (20-100% of cells). As these results were independent of the degree of squamous metaplasia the expression of these membrane markers may reflect local inflammation in addition to tear deficiency, possibly due to sensitisation to the eye drops used. These immunocytological techniques thus provide useful methods of investigating conjunctival inflammation and allergy. They may constitute valuable aid in the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of ocular surface disorders. (BrJ7 Ophthalmol 1992; 76: 545-549)

Elastic fibers are complex structures composed of a tropoelastin inner core and microfibril outer mantle guiding tropoelastin deposition. Microfibrillar proteins mainly include fibrillins and microfibril-associated glycoproteins (MAGPs). MAGP-2 exhibits developmental expression peaking at elastic fiber onset, suggesting that MAGP-2 mediates elastic fiber assembly. To determine whether MAGP-2 regulates elastic fiber assembly, we used an in vitro model featuring doxycycline-regulated cells conditionally overexpressing exogenous MAGP-2 and constitutively expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged tropoelastin. Analysis by immunofluorescent staining showed that MAGP-2 overexpression dramatically increased elastic fibers levels, independently of extracellular levels of soluble tropoelastin, indicating that MAGP-2 stimulates elastic fiber assembly. This was associated with increased levels of matrix-associated MAGP-2. Electron microscopy showed that MAGP-2 specifically associates with microfibrils and that elastin globules primarily colocalize with MAGP-2-associated microfibrils, suggesting that microfibril-associated MAGP-2 facilitates elastic fiber assembly. MAGP-2 overexpression did not change levels of matrix-associated fibrillin-1, MAGP-1, fibulin-2, fibulin-5, or emilin-1, suggesting that microfibrils and other elastic fiberassociated proteins known to regulate elastogenesis do not mediate MAGP-2-induced elastic fiber assembly. Moreover, mutation analysis showed that MAGP-2 does not stimulate elastic fiber assembly through its RGD motif, suggesting that integrin receptor binding does not mediate MAGP-2-induced elastic fiber assembly. Because MAGP-2 interacts with Jagged-1 that controls cell-matrix interaction and cell motility, two key factors in elastic fiber macroassembly, microfibril-associated MAGP-2 may stimulate elastic fiber macroassembly by targeting the release of elastin globules from the cell membrane onto developing elastic fibers.