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Collagen Proteins (collagen + protein)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Human articular chondrocytes secrete parathyroid hormone,related protein and inhibit hypertrophy of mesenchymal stem cells in coculture during chondrogenesis

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2010
J. Fischer
Objective The use of bone marrow,derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has shown promise in cell-based cartilage regeneration. A yet-unsolved problem, however, is the unwanted up-regulation of markers of hypertrophy, such as alkaline phosphatase (AP) and type X collagen, during in vitro chondrogenesis and the formation of unstable calcifying cartilage at heterotopic sites. In contrast, articular chondrocytes produce stable, nonmineralizing cartilage. The aim of this study was to address whether coculture of MSCs with human articular chondrocytes (HACs) can suppress the undesired hypertrophy in differentiating MSCs. Methods MSCs were differentiated in chondrogenic medium that had or had not been conditioned by parallel culture with HAC pellets, or MSCs were mixed in the same pellet with the HACs (1:1 or 1:2 ratio) and cultured for 6 weeks. Following in vitro differentiation, the pellets were transplanted into SCID mice. Results The gene expression ratio of COL10A1 to COL2A1 and of Indian hedgehog (IHH) to COL2A1 was significantly reduced by differentiation in HAC-conditioned medium, and less type X collagen protein was deposited relative to type II collagen. AP activity was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the cells that had been differentiated in conditioned medium, and transplants showed significantly reduced calcification in vivo. In mixed HAC/MSC pellets, suppression of AP was dose-dependent, and in vivo calcification was fully inhibited. Chondrocytes secreted parathyroid hormone,related protein (PTHrP) throughout the culture period, whereas PTHrP was down-regulated in favor of IHH up-regulation in control MSCs after 2,3 weeks of chondrogenesis. The main inhibitory effects seen with HAC-conditioned medium were reproducible by PTHrP supplementation of unconditioned medium. Conclusion HAC-derived soluble factors and direct coculture are potent means of improving chondrogenesis and suppressing the hypertrophic development of MSCs. PTHrP is an important candidate soluble factor involved in this effect. [source]

The characterization of Tasmanian devil Sarcophilius harrisii pelage fibres and their associated lipids

ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009
J. S. Church
Abstract The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilius harrisii) is the largest living marsupial carnivore left on Earth. In this paper we report the results of the first thorough characterization of the keratin fibres comprising the Tasmanian devil pelage. The fibre's morphology, structure, composition and surface have been investigated. The results have been compared with those of a number of other mammalian species including carnivores and herbivores. The fibres structure was found to be consistent with that expected for a keratin fibre. From the results of the bound lipid analysis it can be concluded that the Tasmanian devil is a typical mammal in which the 21-carbon atom anteiso branched fatty acid is the predominant bound fatty acid. This is consistent with the Tasmanian devil's position in the mammalian phylogenetic tree. The amino acid analysis places the devil in line with other carnivores. The high cystine and proline content may correlate with the Tasmanian devil's diet which is rich in muscle and collagen proteins. [source]

Supramolecular assembly of collagen triblock peptides

BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 4 2003
Raquel Martin
Abstract The relationship between primary sequence and collagen triple-helix formation is relatively well characterized, while higher levels of structural assembly from these sequences is poorly understood. To address this gap, a new collagen-like triblock peptide design was used to study the relationship between amino acid sequence and supramolecular assembly. Four collagen-like peptides with the sequence (Glu)5(Gly,Xaa,Hyp,Gly,Pro,Hyp)6(Glu)5 and corresponding to Xaa = alanine, proline, serine, or valine, and an analogous peptide without the glutamic acid end blocks, were solubilized in water at high concentrations (20,150 mg/mL) and analyzed in optical polarizing microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Some of the peptides self-assembled into supramolecular structures, the nature of which was determined by the core collagen-like sequence. The globular end blocks appeared necessary for these short triple-helix-forming peptides to spontaneously organize into supramolecular structures in solution and also provided enhanced thermal stability based on CD analysis. The results indicate a strong dependence of the peptide triblock assembly behavior on the identity of the guest residue Xaa; nematic order when Xaa was valine, no organization when Xaa was serine, and banded spherulites displaying a cholesteric-like twist when Xaa was proline or alanine. According to these results, the identity of the amino acid in position Xaa of the triplet Gly,Xaa,Yaa dramatically determined the type of supramolecular assembly formed by short triple helices based on collagen-triblock like sequences. Moreover, the structural organization observed for these collagen-triblock peptides was analogous to some assemblies observed for native collagen in vivo and in vitro. The amino acid sequence in the native collagen proteins may therefore be a direct determinant of the different supramolecular architectures found in connective tissues. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 70:435,444, 2003 [source]

Dermal fibroblast-associated gene induction by asiaticoside shown in vitro by DNA microarray analysis

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
L. Lu
Summary Background, Asiaticoside, isolated from Centella asiatica, promotes fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in wound healing. The precise mechanism, however, in molecular and gene expression levels is still unclear. Objective, Using cDNA microarray technology, the alteration of gene expression profiles was determined for human dermal fibroblasts in vitro in the presence of asiaticoside (30 ,g mL,1). Fifty-four genes, with known functions for cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and synthesis of ECM, were significantly upregulated in our ,genome-nest' expression profile at various time points. Furthermore, the mRNA levels and protein production of certain genes responsible for ECM synthesis (e.g. encoding type I and type III collagen proteins) were evaluated by Northern blot and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Results, We found that there is a close correlation between the gene profile, mRNA and protein production in the response of the cells to asiaticoside stimulation. Conclusions, This information could be used for exploring the response of the target genes to asiaticoside in fibroblasts. [source]