Estrogen induces different responses in dermal and lung fibroblasts: special reference to collagen.

Fibroblast-like cells derived from dorsal skin and lung of AKR strain mouse embryos were cultured with estrogen for 4 days. The labeled hydroxyproline content was measured as newly synthesized collagenous protein in the cell layer and media. Although collagen synthesis by both cell lines was increased in both fractions under the influence of beta-estradiol-3-benzoate, at physiological concentrations of 10(-3)-10(-1) microgram/ml, the rate of increase differed. Fibroblasts derived from skin showed increased collagen synthesis of approximately 76%, while those from lung showed an increase of approximately 25%. Total protein synthesis by both cell lines also increased. In lung fibroblast cultures the synthesis of total protein was increased more than the synthesis of collagens; on the other hand in skin fibroblast cultures the synthesis of collagen was increased more than the synthesis of total protein. DNA synthesis by both cell lines was not affected by estrogen at the concentrations used. These findings suggest that fibroblasts develop in a different manner in each organ.