Regulatory role of collagen V in establishing mechanical properties of tendons and ligaments is tissue dependent.

Abstract

Patients with classic (type I) Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), characterized by heterozygous mutations in the Col5a1 and Col5a2 genes, exhibit connective tissue hyperelasticity and recurrent joint dislocations, indicating a potential regulatory role for collagen V in joint stabilizing soft tissues. This study asked whether the contribution of collagen V to the establishment of mechanical properties is tissue dependent. We mechanically tested four different tissues from wild type and targeted collagen V-null mice: the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) tendon, Achilles tendon (ACH), the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and the supraspinatus tendon (SST). Area was significantly reduced in the Col5a1(ΔTen/ΔTen) group in the FDL, ACH, and SST. Maximum load and stiffness were reduced in the Col5a1(ΔTen/ΔTen) group for all tissues. However, insertion site and midsubstance modulus were reduced only for the ACL and SST. This study provides evidence that the regulatory role of collagen V in extracellular matrix assembly is tissue dependent and that joint instability in classic EDS may be caused in part by insufficient mechanical properties of the tendons and ligaments surrounding each joint.

• Authors: Brianne K Connizzo, Benjamin R Freedman, Joanna H Fried, Mei Sun, David E Birk, Louis J Soslowsky
• Journal: Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society (J Orthop Res) Vol. 33 Issue 6 Pg. 882-8 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1554-527X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25876927 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
• Copyright: © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Collagen Type V

Topics

• Achilles Tendon (physiology)
• Animals
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (physiology)
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Collagen Type V (physiology)
• Male
• Mice, Transgenic