What do anti-collagen antibodies mean?

Article Abstract:

Collagens are the main structural proteins of connective tissue in the body. There are 12 distinct types of collagen which are found in particular tissues depending on the function of the tissue. An antibody immune response against collagens is found in a number of diseases including emphysema, gout, juvenile chronic arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis. The role of antibodies to collagen and the resulting inflammatory response in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been studied. There are three theories as to how the autoimmune response to collagen is elicited. It is possible that patients with RA develop an antibody response to a foreign molecule that is structurally similar to collagen, and that the antibodies also react with collagen. It is also possible that the antibody response occurs only after the cartilage is broken down by some other mechanism. When the cartilage is intact, the collagen may not be physically available for an antibody response to occur. The third possibility is that the immune system is deregulated and that an antibody response occurs to molecules that are not normally seen as foreign. Once the roles of the antibodies are understood, antibodies can be used as markers to monitor activity and treatment of the disease. It is possible that once the disease process is understood, scientists will be able to manipulate the immune response in order to change the course of disease progression. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Autoimmunity, Rheumatic diseases, Immune response, Connective tissue diseases, Collagen diseases

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Detection of Luse bodies, spiralled collagen, dysplastic collagen, and intracellular collagen in rheumatoid connective tissues: an electron microscopic study

Article Abstract:

Changes in the ultrastructure of collagen may cause tendon and ligament ruptures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Collagen is the major protein of the white fibers found in connective tissue, cartilage and bone. Samples of cartilage, ligaments and tendons taken during joint surgery from 25 RA patients were compared to those taken from individuals without inflammatory joint disease. The average diameter of collagen fibrils from patients with RA was significantly less than that of fibrils from individuals without inflammatory joint disease. The collagen fibrils from RA patients were arranged in an irregular pattern, but those from individuals without inflammatory joint disease were arranged in unidirectional pattern. Irregular thick collagenous structures (Luse bodies) were also found in samples taken from patients with RA but not in those from individuals without inflammatory joint disease.

Ultrastructure (Biology)

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Microfibrillar elements in the synovial joint: presence of type VI collagen and fibrillin-containing microfibrils

Article Abstract:

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have increased turnover of type VI collagen microfibrils in the synovial joint. RA is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints. Synovial joints are lined with a membrane that secretes a fluid for lubricating the joint. Microfibrils are structural elements in connective tissues. A study examined the microfibrils present in bovine (cow) ankle joint synovial linings and synovial fluid from human patients with osteoarthritis. The lining of the bovine ankle joints contained both intact type VI collagen microfibrils and intact fibrillin-containing microfibrils. Aggregates of microfibrils were found in the synovial fluid from osteoarthritis patients which were similar to type VI collagen microfibrils. The presence of type VI collagen microfibrils in synovial fluid may be an early sign of RA.

Joints, Joints (Anatomy), Synovial membranes, Synovial membrane

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