Granulocyte collagenase: selective digestion of type I relative to type III collagen.
Collagenases produced by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, human lung fibroblasts, and rabbit pulmonary alveolar macrophages were compared in their ability to digest soluble native type I and type III collagens. While the fibroblast and macrophage collagenases attacked the two substrates at approximately equal rates, the leukocyte collagenase attacked type I collagen preferentially (15:1) in comparison to type III collagen. This was true with human or rabbit collagen substrates. Thus, proteolysis of collagen, particularly in acute inflammation, may have a significant role in controlling the types of collagen present in connective tissue.
D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology*; D011817:Rabbits
D003012:Microbial Collagenase