Dipeptidyl-Peptidase 4 (DPP4)-Positive Fibroblasts Are Responsible for Secretion of Pro-Fibrotic Matrix Proteins in Human Skin

    May 2019 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”
    Vera Vorstandlechner, Maria Gschwandtner, Erwin Tschachler, H.J. Ankersmit, Michael Mildner
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    TLDR DPP4-positive fibroblasts play a major role in producing proteins that lead to skin fibrosis.
    The document from May 2019 concluded that DPP4-positive fibroblasts are key contributors to the secretion of pro-fibrotic matrix proteins in human skin. This was determined using single-cell transcriptomic analysis on cells from three healthy donors, which showed that DPP4 expression was primarily in fibroblasts and associated with higher levels of ECM proteins like collagen and elastin. Functional studies indicated that the DPP4 inhibitor Sitagliptin could prevent the pro-fibrotic transformation of fibroblasts. The study suggests that DPP4 is important in skin fibrosis, but its precise role requires more research.
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