title: [A study of changes in the ratio of collagen types in skin after long-term treatment with topical glucocorticoids].
abstract: The topical glucocorticoids, widely used in the treatment of a variety of skin disorders, usually induce skin atrophy after long-term administration. In this study, the skin from a 30-year-old female patient was used, and the changes in the ratio of collagen types in atrophic skin derived from the treatment with glucocorticoid were investigated in comparison with that of normal human skin. By transmission electron microscopy, the collagen fibrils in the papillary dermis of normal skin were loose and fine, their diameters ranging from 30 to 40 nm; while those in the atrophic skin appeared tightly compact, their diameters increasing to 50-60 nm. The collagen chains, alpha 1 (I), alpha 2 and alpha 2 (III), from peptic digest of skin were separated by interrupted gel electrophoresis. The ratios of collagen type III to type I as calculated from the normal skins of a 21- and a 39-week fetus and a 36-year-old human were 49.45, 45.51 and 43.65%, respectively, while that of the atrophic skin was 12.89%. Therefore, the persistent treatment of skin with topical glucocorticoids results in a decrease in the ratio of collagen type III to type I.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003094:Collagen; D002990:Clobetasol