Objective To explore the effects of fibroblast transdifferentiation for myofibroblast (MFB) in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to explore the antifibrotic mechanism of interferon γ (IFN-γ) in SSc.Methods The fibroblasts derived from the skin lesions of SSc patients and healthy adult controls were cultured in vitro and the MFB proportion in fibroblasts was examined by qualitative and quantitative α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) detection.By adding IFN-γ to the culture system with several doses,the influence on fibroblast proliferation and transdifferentiation for MFB in SSc was observed with MTT and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively.Differences in the means of two independent samples were tested by Student' t-test.The means among multiple independent samples were com-pared by ANOVA.Results The means of positive α-SMA in SSc fibroblasts were higher than those in the controls (P＜0.01).With extended culture time,α-SMA levels of the two groups all increased gradually (P＜ 0.01 all),but there were higher α-SMA levels in SSc fibroblasts (24 h:130±19,48 h:183±21,72 h:249± 22) than those in controls (24 h:98±21,48 h:143±16,72 h:174±19) (P＜0.05 all).Although fibroblast proliferation and α-SMA levels were not influenced after adding of IFN-γ 10 U/ml (P＞0.05 all),but IFN-γ at concentration of 100 U/ml and 1000 U/ml could obviously repress fibroblast proliferation and α-SMA levels (P＜0.05 all),and 1000 U/ml had the strongest inhibiting effect at 24,48,72 h.Conclusion The fibroblasts in the skin of SSc patients have a strong potency to transdifferentiate to MFB.Early appropviate dose of IFN-γ could repress fibroblast proliferation and transdifferentiation in SSc.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum adipocytokines and leptin level are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Serum adiponectin and leptin level were measured by ELISA in 336 postmenopausal women. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the whole body, lumbar spine, hip, and forearm. Body compositions including lean tissue mass and body fat mass were measured by DXA, and their relationship was analyzed. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels were negatively related to BMD at the whole body, the lumbar spine, the hip, and the forearm (r = -0.181, r = -0.208, r = -0.228, r = -0.203, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD still remained (r = -0.131, r = -0.140, r = -0.159, r = -0.172, and P<0.05, respectively). Serum leptin levels were positively related to BMD was at the hip and the forearm (r = 0.162, r = 0.210, and P < 0.05, respectively). After adjustment for age and fat mass, the correlation with BMD at the forearm remained (r = 0.157, P<0.05), but the correlation with BMD at the hip disappeared. In the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, year since menopause, lean mass, adiponectin, and estradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the body, the hip and the forearm; year since menopause, lean mass, body mass index, adiponectin, and extradiol were independent predictors of BMD at the lumbar spine. CONCLUSION Adiponectin is the independent predictor of BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; physiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; blood ; metabolism