Type I and III collagens in human colon cancer and diverticulosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Collagens are major proteins in the extracellular matrix, providing tissues with tensile strength. They are also important for cell adhesion and the invasion of malignant tumours.

METHODS:

Thirty-nine samples of human colon (24 diverticulosis, 6 malignant tumours, 9 controls) were collected during elective surgery. Immunoassays for different domains of type I and III collagens and procollagens were used in soluble tissue extracts and trypsin digests of tissue samples.

RESULTS:

The contents of cross-linked type I and III collagen telopeptides and total collagen were similar in diverticulosis and healthy tissue, whereas in malignant tissue maturely cross-linked type III collagen was scarce. Furthermore, some of the cross-linked type I telopeptide antigens were exceptionally small in size, indicating that the cross-linking of type I collagen in collagen fibres is impaired in cancer. The rate of type I collagen synthesis was clearly increased in malignancy, but not significantly in diverticulosis. However, type III collagen synthesis was increased in diverticulosis, but not in malignancy.

CONCLUSIONS:

In colon malignancy, the collagen cross-linking process was aberrant and the synthesis of type I collagen increased. In diverticulosis, the synthesis of type III collagen was increased, suggesting only moderately increased metabolic activity.

• Authors: M K Bode, T J Karttunen, J Mäkelä, L Risteli, J Risteli
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology (Scand J Gastroenterol) Vol. 35 Issue 7 Pg. 747-52 (Jul 2000) ISSN: 0036-5521 [Print] England
• PMID: 10972180 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Peptide Fragments
• Procollagen
• procollagen Type I N-terminal peptide
• procollagen Type III-N-terminal peptide
• Collagen
• Hydroxyproline

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Collagen (analysis, biosynthesis)
• Colon (metabolism)
• Colonic Neoplasms (metabolism)
• Diverticulum, Colon (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroxyproline (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Peptide Fragments (analysis)
• Procollagen (analysis)