Collagen Synthesis by Human Fibroblast Strains.

Abstract

Summary Human diploid fibroblast strains derived from fetal lung, adult skin and keloids, produce collagen in vitro when allowed to grow to confluence and remain without transfer. This property may be retained throughout most of their culture life. Keloid fibroblasts produced the smallest quantities of collagen and had the lowest growth potential. All strains produced more collagen when ascorbic acid was added to the medium. Up to 3% of the total protein being made in the presence of ascorbic acid consisted of collagen. An appreciable fraction of the collagen failed to precipitate in the cell layer and escaped to the medium both in the presence and in the absence of added ascorbate.