MODULATION OF COLLAGEN-SYNTHESIS AND CELL-PROLIFERATION BY RETINOIDS IN HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

The effect of the retinoids, 13-cis-retinoic acid (-RA), etretinate and all-trans-RA on collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of human skin fibroblasts was studied. These compounds all inhibited collagen synthesis at concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-5) M after 48 h treatments. The inhibitory effect of 13-cis-RA was the most pronounced. Both all-trans-RA and etretinate inhibited DNA synthesis, to 60% and 53% of control value, respectively, at 10(-5) M. In contrast, 13-cis-RA did not show any significant effect on DNA synthesis at the concentrations used. 13-cis-RA appears to be a unique drug showing a pronounced inhibitor effect on collagen synthesis without affecting DNA synthesis and may prove a useful tool for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.