Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (RALDH1)-producing dermal dendritic cells (DCs), a conventional DC subset regulating skin fibrosis, are decreased in the involved skin of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this study, we investigated the contribution of Fli1 deficiency, a potential predisposing factor of SSc, to the phenotypical alteration of RALDH1-producing dermal DCs by using SSc model mice and SSc skin samples.
Bleomycin (BLM)-induced skin fibrosis was generated with Fli1
RALDH activity of dermal DCs was significantly decreased in BLM-treated Fli1
Fli1 deficiency inhibits RALDH1 activity of CD103