Hydroxychloroquine induces autophagic cell death of human dermal fibroblasts: implications for treating fibrotic skin diseases.

Full Abstract

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used to treat rheumatic and inflammatory diseases. It inhibits inflammation by downregulating the effects of inflammatory cells and their mediators. Although HCQ has been used to treat several fibrotic skin diseases, the mechanisms by which it exerts its effects on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) have not been studied in detail. In this issue, Ramser et al. show that HCQ inhibits proliferation of HDFs and induces autophagy. These observations are supported by the demonstration that HCQ upregulates Beclin-1, a key regulator of autophagy. Future studies are needed to determine whether HCQ induces autophagy in vivo and whether antimalarials have antifibrotic effects when used in clinically relevant doses.

Author information

Author/s: Oikarinen, Aarne (A);

Affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. aarne.oikarinen(-atsign-)oulu.fi

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comment; Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of investigative dermatology (J Invest Dermatol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 129 (issue 10) : pp 2333-5

Dates: Created 2009/09/14; Completed 2009/09/24;

PMID: 19749781, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/24/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentOn: J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Oct;129(10):2419-26. (PMID: 19357706)

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