166a: Overexpression of Cd109 in the Epidermis Reduces Scarring in a Bleomycin Induced Model of Skin Fibrosis

Abstract

Background: Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFBeta) plays an important role in many biological processes including wound healing and inflammation. However, excess levels of TGF-beta have been linked to scarring and fibrotic skin disorders. Our group has identified CD109 as a novel TGF-Beta co-receptor, and have found that overexpression of CD109 in skin cells in vitro inhibits TGF-Beta1 signalling and reduces extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. We, therefore, examined whether CD109 is able to regulate ECM production and fibrotic responses in the skin in vivo by studying bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis in transgenic mice overexpressing CD109 in the epidermis.