title: Changes in the collagen of synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis and effect of D-penicillamine.
abstract: 1. Normal synovial membrane contains approximately equal proportions of two genetically distinct forms of collagen, types I and III. The proportion of these two collagens is unchanged in rheumatoid synovium but in addition a small amount of basement membrane collagen is present. Tissue culture of rheumatoid synovium confirms the synthesis of both type I and III collagens. 2. In young normal synovium both type I and type III collagens are stabilized by a reducible keto cross-link, which is replaced in adult tissue by an as yet unknown non-reducible cross-link. During the proliferation of the collagen in adult rheumatoid synovium a high proportion of the keto cross-link is present. This cross-link is not susceptible to cleavage by D-penicillamine, nor does the drug have any effect on the rate of synthesis in vitro. The mode of action of D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis does not appear to involve a direct effect on the synovial membrane collagen.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010434:Pepsin A; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D010434:Pepsin A; D010396:Penicillamine