主催: 聖マリアンナ医科大学 リウマチ・膠原病・アレルギー内科
Objective: To find the biomarker of SSc at peptide level and to investigate the biological function of the molecule.
Methods: Sera form 40 patients with SSc, 30 SLE, 21 RA, 30 OA, and 26 healthy donors were used in peptidomic analysis. The biofunctions of DRC3f and C3f was testified by stimulating the cultured skin fibroblasts, skin and lung microvascular endothelial cells (MEC). The cell proliferation was observed on bioreduction of MTS into formazan by living cells. The production of TGF-beta, VEGF and EGF were measured by ELISA.
Results: A group of peptides was detected dominantly in SSc sera and identified to be DRC3f and its derivatives. The levels of DRC3f was related to the severity and activity of SSc. Synthesized DRC3f and C3f enhanced the MEC proliferation independent on growth factors. Both the whole and filtered sera containing DRC3f enhanced proliferation of endothelial cells. Increased production of TGF-beta by DRC3f was also observed in skin fibroblasts and MEC.
Conclusions: DRC3f may be a useful marker of SSc and may play important roles in pathogenesis of SSc.
