title: Changes of biochemical and biomechanical properties in Dupuytren disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major biochemical characteristic of Dupuytren disease is the progressive and irreversible deposition of excess fibrous collagen characterized by an enhanced type III collagen proportion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of changes of the collagen spectrum on the biophysical properties of the palmar aponeurosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Variably affected palmar regions from 30 individuals with Dupuytren disease were classified according to histologic test results and clinical stage. Biochemical, biomechanical, and thermal contracture studies were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative type III collagen content increased with increasing tissue involvement and was found to correlate with calorimetric and biomechanical properties with the exception of the Young modulus. In experiments on the thermal isometric contracture, the collagen denaturation temperature decreased with increasing type III collagen content, ie, increasing involvement. To study the dependence of biophysical properties from the collagen type distribution independent of structural changes, as seen in Dupuytren disease, we investigated rat skins from animals of an age range characterized by dramatic changes in type III collagen content (0-18 months). Biomechanical data also correlated significantly with type III collagen content in rat skin with the exception of the time constant of stress relaxation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of these results, we suggest that structural changes, such as reduced collagen fibril diameters, associated with alterations in the type III collagen proportion may influence biophysical properties of connective tissues in the involved palmar aponeurosis in addition to alterations of the cross-linking pattern.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Anatomy, Währinger Strasse, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melling
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karimian-Teherani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mostler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behnam
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sobal
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Menzel
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002151:Calorimetry; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004387:Dupuytren Contracture / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003094:Collagen