The type of collagen cross-link determines the reversibility of experimental skin fibrosis
article
Fibrotic processes in humans are characterised by an excessive accumulation of collagen containing increased levels of hydroxyallysine-derived cross-links. The occurrence of these cross-links appears to be an important criterion in assessing the irreversibility of fibrosis. We hypothesise that increased hydroxyallysine cross-linking results in a collagenous matrix that is less susceptible to proteolytic degradation and therefore the collagen deposition is no longer reversible. In this report, we show that collagen matrices with increased hydroxyallysine cross-link levels were less susceptible to matrix metalloproteinase 1 degradation than are collagen matrices containing low hydroxyallysine levels. These data indicate that the type of collagen cross-link influences collagen catabolism. In vivo evidence for the importance of the cross-linking type in determining the reversibility of the fibrotic process was found using the bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis mouse model. The analysis of the accumulated collagen in the fibrotic skin of bleomycin-treated mice did not reveal an increase in hydroxyallysine cross-link levels. In concurrence with our hypothesis, the collagen accumulation resolved in time when the mice were no longer receiving bleomycin treatment, showing the reversibility of the fibrosis. In conclusion, our data indicate that the type of collagen cross-linking is an important factor in determining whether the outcome of the fibrotic process is reversible or not. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Chemicals / CAS: bleomycin, 11056-06-7; collagen, 9007-34-5; interstitial collagenase, 9001-12-1; 2-Aminoadipic Acid, 542-32-5; Bleomycin, 11056-06-7; Collagen, 9007-34-5; hydroxyallysine, 30382-02-6; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1, EC 3.4.24.7.
Topics
Biomedical ResearchCollagen accumulationCollagen degradationFibrosisHydroxyallysine-derived cross-linkMMP-1bleomycincollageninterstitial collagenaseanimal experimentanimal modelanimal tissuearticlecatabolismcollagen synthesiscontrolled studycross linkingfemalemousenonhumanoutcomes researchpriority journalprotein degradationskin fibrosis2-Aminoadipic AcidAnimalsBleomycinCollagenFemaleFibrosisHumansMatrix Metalloproteinase 1MiceSkin
TNO Identifier
238435
ISSN
09254439
Source
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease, 1740(1), pp. 60-67.
Pages
60-67
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