Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of nuclear factor I-C (NFI-C) on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced
up-regulation of TGF-β receptor II (TβRII) in dermal fibroblasts. Methods A lentiviral vector containing NFI-C sequence
(Lenti-GFP-NFI-C) was transfected into a human foreskin fibroblast cell line (HFF-1). Cultured HFF-1 cells, cells transfected
with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C, and cells transfected with a negative virus were stimulated with PDGF-BB, and Western blotting and
RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression levels of TβRII in the treated cells. Results PDGF treatment significantly increased
the expression level of TβRII in HFF-1 cells (P<0.05). The cells transfected with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C expressed a significantly
lower level of TβRII than non-transfected cells in response to PDGF stimulation (P<0.05), but the negative virus showed no
such inhibitory effect (P>0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression level of TβRII protein between cells
transfected with Lenti-GFP-NFI-C-transfection before PDGF stimulation and the blank control cells. Conclusion NFI-C can
inhibit PDGF-induced up-regulation of TβRII and thus reduce the sensitivity of the dermal fibroblasts to TGF-β.