Effects of estrogens on extracellular matrix synthesis in cultures of human normal and scleroderma skin fibroblasts.

To investigate the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on extracellular matrix (ECM) protein synthesis (collagen type I, fibronectin, and laminin) using cultures of normal and scleroderma (SSc) skin fibroblasts. Primary fibroblasts cultures, obtained from skin biopsies of six female voluntary subjects and three female SSc patients, were treated for 24 h with E2 (10(-10)M) alone or in combination with tamoxifene (TAM, 10(-7)M) as an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist. ECM protein synthesis was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. E2 induced a significant increase of fibronectin, collagen type I, and laminin synthesis both in normal (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively) and SSc fibroblasts (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively) when compared to untreated fibroblasts. TAM induced a significant decrease of ECM protein synthesis when compared to E2-treated TAM-untreated fibroblasts. This study seems to support important modulatory effects of E2 in the fibrotic progression of the SSc process via ER interactions.