Skin collagen biosynthesis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with D-penicillamine.
Collagen biosynthesis was measured in skin biopsies taken from 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis before and after at least 6 months' continuous treatment with D-penicillamine, 1.0 g/day. There was a significant 36% reduction in mean collagen biosynthesis (p less than 0.0125) as assayed by 14C-hydroxyproline formation from 14C-proline during 24 h of tissue culture. The changes in 14C-hydroxyproline formation were correlated with the total doses of D-penicillamine taken (r = 0.71, p less than 0.01) and the falls in ESR (r = 0.72, p less than 0.01). No significant change in general protein syntehsis was observed. 500 microgram/mlD-penicillamine added to skil cultures in vitro inhibited both collagen and general protein synthesis (p less than 0.01). It is suggested that the clinical improvement induced by D-penicillamine could reflect an inhibition of collagen proliferation in the synovium.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013048:Specimen Handling
D003094:Collagen; D010396:Penicillamine