PGE₂ causes a coordinate decrease in the steady state levels of fibronectin and types I and III procollagen mRNAs in normal human dermal fibroblasts

Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) caused inhibition of collagen and fibronectin synthesis by confluent cultures of human dermal fibroblasts. Dot-blot hybridization to cDNA probes complementary to Types I and III procollagens and fibronectin demonstrated that inhibition of protein production was accompanied by a coordinate decrease in the steady-state levels of the corresponding mRNAs. Blockade of transcription by actinomycin D demonstrated that PGE₂ did not alter the stability of these mRNA. These results indicate that PGE₂ is capable of exerting modulation of extracellular matrix biosynthesis, and that these effects occur at a transcriptional level.