Hyaluronic acid synthesis in fibroblasts of prétibial myxedema

ABSTRACT

Hyaluronic acid production by fibroblasts from skin lesions of prétibial myxedema (PTM) and also from normal control skin was studied in tissue culture. Normal control fibroblasts produced increased amounts of hyaluronic acid when serum from patients with PTM was used to supplement the tissue culture medium. Further increases in hyaluronic acid synthesis were noted when PTM fibroblasts were incubated with normal human serum, and when PTM fibroblasts were incubated with serum from patients with PTM. These results suggest that a serum factor is operative in patients with PTM, and that this serum factor can influence the production of hyaluronic acid in both normal controls and PTM fibroblasts. This increased production of hyaluronic acid by fibro-blasts may be a major factor in the pathogenesis of PTM.