Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Targeting CD13/Aminopeptidase N as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Scleroderma Fibrosis
Authors' conclusion
These results are the first to demonstrate a key role for sCD13 in SSc skin fibrosis
Study context
- Population
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) skin biopsies and explanted dermal fibroblasts from patients with dcSSc; mice with bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis
- Comparison
- Targeting the sCD13-B1R axis in SSc fibrosis models
Methodological detailsin vitro, in vivo, bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis mouse model, single-cell analysis
- In vitro
- In vivo
- Bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis mouse model
- Single-cell analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Gene expression of CD13, B1R and MMP14 elevated in dcSSc skin biopsies
- Single-cell analysis: highest BDKRB1 expression in COL8A1-positive myofibroblasts, a population exclusively seen in SSc
- TGFβ induced BDKRB1 expression and Soluble CD13 (sCD13) production by dcSSc skin fibroblasts
- sCD13 promoted fibrotic gene expression, signalling, proliferation, migration and gel contraction in dcSSc fibroblasts
- Pro-fibrotic responses of sCD13 or TGFβ prevented by a B1R antagonist
- Cd13- or Bdkrb1-deficient mice resistant to bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis and inflammation
- Pharmacological B1R inhibition had a comparable antifibrotic effect
Original publication
Targeting CD13/Aminopeptidase N as a Novel Therapeutic Approach for Scleroderma Fibrosis. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 18 September 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →