Clonal heterogeneity in the fibroblast response to mononuclear cell derived mediators.

Human dermal fibroblasts were examined for heterogeneity in proliferation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthetic response to supernates of mitogen activated mononuclear cell cultures. Eleven substrains from a single neonatal foreskin culture displayed marked clonal heterogeneity in the fibroblast response to mononuclear cell derived mediators. Supernates of mononuclear cell cultures stimulated fibroblast PGE2 synthesis and suppressed proliferation. Substrains displayed tenfold differences in PGE synthesis and the extent of growth suppression. Release of immunologic mediators at sites of inflammatory lesions could lead to alterations in the clonal composition and phenotypic expression of connective tissue cells.