lnterleukin-1β and phenytoin reduce α1 (1) procollagen mRNA expression in human gingival fibroblasts

Effects of and interactions between interleukin-1β (IL-1 β) and phenytoin (PHT) on α1 (I) procollagen gene and protein expression in human gingival fibroblasts and its relation to prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) formation were studied. IL-1β (300 pg/ ml) reduced the steady-state level of αl(I) procollagen mRNA by 50% and decreased the amount of procollagen I by 35%. PHT (10 μg/ml) reduced the level of α1(I) procollagen mRNA by 40% but the amount of procollagen I in the medium was unchanged. In combination with IL-1β, PHT potentiated the inhibitory effect of IL-1β on αl(I) procollagen mRNA level that was accompanied by an increased PGE₂ formation. Preincubation with indomethacin (10^-6m) partially reduced the inhibitory effect of IL-1β as well as of IL-1β in combination with PHT on the mRNA level of αl(I) procollagen. The inhibitory effect of PHT was unaffected by indomethacin treatment. Addition of exogenous PGE₂ (≥10 nm) dose-dependently reduced steady-state level of α1(I) procollagen mRNA as well as the amount of procollagen 1. The study indicates that IL-1 reduces the expression of αl(I) procollagen mRNA in human gingival fibroblasts partly by a prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH) synthase-mediated pathway and partly by a PGH-synthase independent pathway, whereas PHT reduces α1(I) procollagen gene expression by a PGH-synthase independent pathway. The potentiation of the inhibitory effect of IL-1 induced by PHT was mediated mainly by a PGH-synthase dependent pathway.