Anti-TGF-β treatment prevents skin and lung fibrosis in murine sclerodermatous graft-versus-host disease: a model for human scleroderma

LL McCormick, Y Zhang, E Tootell… - The Journal of …, 1999 - journals.aai.org
LL McCormick, Y Zhang, E Tootell, AC Gilliam
The Journal of Immunology, 1999journals.aai.org
Scleroderma, a debilitating acquired connective tissue disease, is characterized by fibrosis,
particularly of the skin and lungs. Monocyte-produced TGF-β1, a potent stimulus for collagen
synthesis, is thought to drive the fibrosis. Here, we thoroughly characterize a murine
sclerodermatous graft-vs-host disease (Scl GVHD) model for scleroderma that reproduces
important features of scleroderma including skin thickening, lung fibrosis, and up-regulation
of cutaneous collagen mRNA, which is preceded by monocyte infiltration and the up …
Abstract
Scleroderma, a debilitating acquired connective tissue disease, is characterized by fibrosis, particularly of the skin and lungs. Monocyte-produced TGF-β1, a potent stimulus for collagen synthesis, is thought to drive the fibrosis. Here, we thoroughly characterize a murine sclerodermatous graft-vs-host disease (Scl GVHD) model for scleroderma that reproduces important features of scleroderma including skin thickening, lung fibrosis, and up-regulation of cutaneous collagen mRNA, which is preceded by monocyte infiltration and the up-regulation of cutaneous TGF-β1 mRNA. Most importantly, we can prevent fibrosis in both the skin and lungs of mice with Scl GVHD by inhibiting TGF-β with neutralizing Abs. The murine Scl GVHD model provides the unique opportunity to study basic immunologic mechanisms that drive fibrosing diseases and GVHD itself and will be useful for testing new therapies for these diseases.
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