Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1975 Nov;56(5):1175–1180. doi: 10.1172/JCI108194

Collagenase in scleroderma.

A H Brady
PMCID: PMC301981  PMID: 171282

Abstract

Collagenase activity was measured by direct assay in skins from 12 patients afflicted with systemic sclerosis. In seven of those cases where extensive involvement of the forearm and trunk skin existed, collagenase activity of the involved skin was minimal or absent. Moreover, in the same patient, regions of marked skin involvement (e.g., forearm) showed no collagenase activity, when clinically uninvolved areas (thigh) exhibited normal or nearly normal levels of enzyme activity. In other patients where clinical symptoms were systemic and not associated significantly with the skin, collagenase activity approximated normal levels. Measurements of collagenase activity and tensile strength in another condition (basal cell carcinoma) that includes changes in mechanical properties of skin that any be regarded as the opposite end of the spectrum from those of sclerodermatous skin support a general correlation between collagenase activity and tensile strength. These studies indicate that the major defect responsible for the hidebound skin lesions of scleroderma may be decreased collagenase activity.

Full text

PDF
1175

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Black M. M., Bottoms E., Shuster S. Skin collagen content and thickness in systemic sclerosis. Br J Dermatol. 1970 Nov;83(5):552–555. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1970.tb15741.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Eisen A. Z. Human skin collagenase: localization and distribution in normal human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1969 May;52(5):442–448. doi: 10.1038/jid.1969.76. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. FISHER E. R., RODNAN G. P. Pathologic observations concerning the cutaneous lesion of progressive systemic sclerosis: an electron microscopic histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Arthritis Rheum. 1960 Dec;3:536–545. doi: 10.1002/art.1780030607. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FLEISCHMAJER R., FISHMAN L. AMINO-ACID COMPOSITION OF HUMAN DERMAL COLLAGEN. Nature. 1965 Jan 16;205:264–266. doi: 10.1038/205264a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FLEISCHMAJER R. THE COLLAGEN IN SCLERODERMA. Arch Dermatol. 1964 Mar;89:437–441. doi: 10.1001/archderm.1964.01590270123028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fleischmajer R., Damiano V., Nedwich A. Alteration of subcutaneous tissue in systemic scleroderma. Arch Dermatol. 1972 Jan;105(1):59–66. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fleischmajer R., Faludi G. A study of carbohydrate metabolism in scleroderma. Preliminary report. J Invest Dermatol. 1969 Apr;52(4):326–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fleischmajer R., Perlish J. S. Glycosaminoglycans in scleroderma and scleredema. J Invest Dermatol. 1972 Mar;58(3):129–132. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12538919. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fries J. F., Hoopes J. E., Shulman L. E. Reciprocal skin grafts in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Arthritis Rheum. 1971 Sep-Oct;14(5):571–578. doi: 10.1002/art.1780140504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Herbert C. M., Lindberg K. A., Jayson M. I., Bailey A. J. Biosynthesis and maturation of skin collagen in scleroderma, and effect of D-penicillamine. Lancet. 1974 Feb 9;1(7850):187–192. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)92494-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. LeRoy E. C. Increased collagen synthesis by scleroderma skin fibroblasts in vitro: a possible defect in the regulation or activation of the scleroderma fibroblast. J Clin Invest. 1974 Oct;54(4):880–889. doi: 10.1172/JCI107827. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. RASMUSSEN D. M., WAKIM K. G., WINKELMANN R. K. ISOTONIC AND ISOMETRIC THERMAL CONTRACTION OF HUMAN DERMIS. 3. SCLERODERMA AND CICATRIZING LESIONS. J Invest Dermatol. 1964 Nov;43:349–355. doi: 10.1038/jid.1964.165. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ryan J. N., Woessner J. F., Jr Mammalian collagenase: direct demonstration in homogenates of involuting rat uterus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1971 Jul 2;44(1):144–149. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(71)80170-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. WOESSNER J. F., Jr The determination of hydroxyproline in tissue and protein samples containing small proportions of this imino acid. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1961 May;93:440–447. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(61)90291-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Woessner J. F., Jr Mammalian collagenases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1973 Oct;(96):310–326. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Yamanishi Y., Dabbous M. K., Hashimoto K. Effect of collagenolytic activity in basal cell epithelioma of the skin on reconstituted collagen and physical properties and kinetics of the crude enzyme. Cancer Res. 1972 Nov;32(11):2551–2560. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES