Epidermal growth factor inhibits transcription of type I collagen genes and production of type I collagen in cultured human skin fibroblasts in the presence and absence of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a long-acting vitamin C derivative.

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF, 2-10 ng/ml) stimulated growth and production of non-collagenous proteins, but inhibited production of collagen by 60% in cultured human skin fibroblasts. Type analysis of the collagen produced indicated that inhibition of the collagen production observed was mainly a reflection of a reduction in type I collagen. The accumulation of pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) mRNAs and the transcriptional activity of these genes were determined in human skin fibroblasts in order to investigate site(s) of regulation of type I collagen production by human EGF in the absence and presence of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P), a long-acting vitamin C derivative. Human EGF (10 ng/ml) used alone reduced the steady state levels of mRNAs for pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) chains and transcriptional activity of these genes in vitro by 45%. Asc 2-P (0.2 mM) alone, on the other hand, raised production of type I collagen and the steady state levels of mRNAs for pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) collagen chains as well as stimulated transcriptional activity of these genes. Human EGF attenuated these stimulative effects of Asc 2-P. These results indicate that human EGF regulates type I collagen synthesis at the transcriptional level in cultured fibroblasts in the presence and absence of Asc 2-P. The possibility that human EGF plays a role as a regulator of type I collagen genes in vivo was discussed.