Objective To investigate the contribution of the adhesion receptor DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) in the development of dermal fibrosis on gene inactivation and targeted molecular strategies.

Methods Human skin expression of DNAM-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Mice deficient for DNAM-1 (dnam1^−/−) and wild-type controls (dnam1^+/+) were injected with bleomycin or NaCl. Infiltrating leucocytes, T cells, B cells and monocytes were quantified and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lesional skin of dnam1^−/− and dnam1^+/+ mice. The anti-fibrotic potential of a DNAM-1 neutralising monoclonal antibody (mAb) was evaluated in the mouse model of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis.

Results Overexpression of DNAM-1 was detected in the skin of patients with SSc (systemic sclerosis). Dnam1^−/− mice were protected from bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis with reduction of dermal thickening (75±5%, p=0.03), hydroxyproline content (46±8%, p=0.04) and myofibroblast counts (39±5%, p=0.01). Moreover, the number of T cells was significantly decreased in lesional skin of dnam1^−/− mice (69±15%, p=0.0007). Dnam1^−/− mice also displayed decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in lesional skin. Consistent with the gene inactivation strategy, treatment of mice with DNAM-1 neutralising mAb prevented dermal fibrosis induced by bleomycin with reduction of dermal thickness (64±6%, p=0.002), hydroxyproline content (61±8%, p=0.004) and myofibroblast counts (83±12%, p=0.002).

Conclusions An inactivation gene strategy showed that DNAM-1 exerts profibrotic effects by controlling T cell activation and cytokine release. A molecular targeted strategy confirmed that DNAM-1 neutralising mAb has potent antifibrotic properties, supporting the hypothesis that inhibition of DNAM-1 might be a promising new approach for the treatment of SSc and potentially other related fibrotic diseases.