Effect of scleroderma serum on human fibroblast collagen production: possible selection through proliferation.

The effects on cell proliferation and on collagen and protein synthesis of prolonged exposure of control and scleroderma skin fibroblasts to control and scleroderma serum were studied. The previously described mitogenic effect originally noted at 3 days was observed to a lesser degree at 21 days, at which time a doubling of protein synthesis and a 3-fold increase in collagen synthesis were noted. Since earlier studies of shorter exposure times did not show effects on protein or collagen synthesis, the prolonged exposure of heterogeneous mass cultures of dermal fibroblasts to the mitogenic effects of scleroderma serum may result in the emergence of high collagen producing cells.