Procollagen production and procollagen messenger RNA levels and activity in human lung fibroblasts during periods of rapid and stationary growth

J Biol Chem. 1981 Mar 25;256(6):3135-40.

Abstract

The production of procollagen molecules by human diploid fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL-1 cells) remains constant in both rapid and stationary growth phases. However, log phase cells degrade 3-fold more newly synthesized collagen inside the cell prior to secretion than do stationary phase cells. Procollagen mRNA levels, measured by hybridization with a type I procollagen mRNA-specific complementary DNA, are approximately 2-fold higher in confluent cells than in log phase cells. There are no significant differences in the ability of either log phase or confluent HFL-1 cell procollagen mRNA to be translated in an in vitro cell-free translation system. Therefore, the ability of HFL-1 cells to maintain constant collagen production irrespective of the growth status of the cells results from the combined action of a number of regulatory mechanisms, including changes in procollagen mRNA levels, the utilization of procollagen mRNA, and intracellular procollagen degradation.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Division
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Fetus
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Lung / physiology
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Pregnancy
  • Procollagen / biosynthesis*
  • Procollagen / genetics
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*

Substances

  • Procollagen
  • RNA, Messenger