Mice overexpressing integrin αv in fibroblasts exhibit dermal thinning of the skin

•Integrins, especially αv integrin (ITGAV), are thought to play central roles in tissue fibrosis and the pathogenesis of scleroderma. So far, skin phenotype of tissue-specific transgenic mice of ITGAV have not been investigated.•To develop scleroderma mice model with apparent skin sclerosis and to investigate the role of ITGAV in the skin fibrosis, we engineered transgenic mice that overexpress ITGAV in the fibroblasts under the control of α2(I) collagen enhancer promoter. However, contrary to our expectation, mice overexpressing ITGAV in fibroblasts exhibit dermal thinning of the skin. This is the first study indicating the complex and paradoxical role of ITGAV in skin fibrosis.