Quantitation of types I and III collagens in human tissue samples and cell culture by cyanogen bromide peptide analysis

A procedure for the quantitation of types I and III collagens by cyanogen bromide peptide analysis was developed with the aim of eliminating certain problems associated with this method. Ion-exchange chromatography reduced high background levels on gel scans used to quantitate the peptides; reduction with beta-mercaptoethanol substantially increased the efficiency of the cyanogen bromide cleavage; use of a concave gradient in acrylamide from 8 to 20% improved the resolution of cyanogen bromide peptides separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; and a normalization procedure eliminated variations due to differences in the amount of material loaded on the gel system. This method of quantitation was applied to human aorta samples and to collagen secreted by human skin fibroblasts. Metachromasy of type I and type III collagen cyanogen bromide peptides stained with Coomassie blue R-250 was established and this was used as an index of the purity of the cyanogen bromide peptide preparations. Type I and III collagens were prepared from human placental tissue, and these purified collagens were used to construct calibration curves to determine the relationship between the quantity of diagnostic cyanogen bromide peptides present and the composition of the sample in terms of types I and III collagens.     

The human immune response to reconstituted bovine collagen

The human immune response to bovine dermal collagen was characterized through histologic, serologic, and immunoblotting methods. Collagen-sensitive patients were identified by hypersensitivity to intradermal exposure to ZYDERM Collagen Implant--a pepsin-solubilized, reconstituted, bovine dermal collagen. Biopsies of test sites in the forearm were obtained from several collagen-sensitive patients. Histologic examination revealed an implant-associated palisading foreign body granuloma. The lesion also contained a mixed cell infiltrate of histiocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. Sera were collected from patients who developed erythema or induration at intradermal test or treatment sites, and were evaluated for antibodies to bovine dermal collagen by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera with anti-collagen antibodies were further characterized in this study. The circulating antibodies were reactive with both native and heat-denatured bovine dermal collagen. By using purified alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) polypeptides, these sera were found to have antibodies reactive with both alpha-chains. Each alpha-chain was fragmented by using cyanogen bromide (CB). The CB peptides were electrophoretically separated, and these sera were evaluated for antibodies to the major fragments by using an immunoblotting technique. Of the sera evaluated by this method, 89% (23/26) had antibodies to alpha 1-CB6; 77% (20/26) had antibodies to alpha 2-CB4; and 65% (17/26) had antibodies reactive with both CB fragments. In addition, most sera (77%) contained antibodies reactive with two or more (up to five) of the major CB peptides. The least antigenic fragment was alpha 2-CB3,5 (8%). In addition, these sera had antibody activity against both native and heat-denaturated bovine types III and II collagens. Little or no interspecies (rat or guinea pig) cross-reactivity (types I and II) was detected. Furthermore, these sera did not have antibodies against human types I, II, and III collagens.     

Quantitation of type I and III collagens using electrophoresis of alpha chains and cyanogen bromide peptides

The methods of quantitating the relative amounts of type I and III collagens in samples containing crosslinked collagen chains were evaluated using electrophoresis of alpha chains and cyanogen bromide peptides. The densitometry areas of the alpha I(I) chains from type I collagen and the alpha I(III) chains from type III collagen were reduced because of the failure of the crosslinked chains to dissociate. However, the ratios of the unit densitometry areas of these chains (area of chain/micrograms type I or III collagen loaded) were constant for type I and III collagens prepared from the same samples of tissue. A calibration factor, which was the same for dermis and mitral valve, was derived to convert the densitometry area ratios to the weight ratios of type I to III collagens. In contrast, the densitometry areas of the alpha I(I) CB8 (type I collagen marker) and the alpha I(III) CB5 (type III collagen marker) were not reduced by crosslinked collagen chains. A calibration factor was also derived to convert the ratios of the densitometry areas of the marker peptides to weight ratios of type I to type III collagens. Almost identical results were obtained when electrophoresis of alpha chains and of cyanogen bromide peptides was used with these calibration factors to quantitate the relative amounts of type I and III collagens in tissue extracts which contained different amounts of crosslinked chains.     

Cyanogen bromide peptides of the fibrillar collagens I, III, and V and their mass spectrometric characterization: detection of linear peptides, peptide glycosylation, and cross-linking peptides involved in formation of homo- and heterotypic fibrils

The network of the fibrillar collagens I, III, and V, extracted from fetal calf skin and cleaved with cyanogen bromide, was studied by means of ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UV-MALDI MS). Nearly all of the expected cyanogen bromide peptides of the different alpha chains were detected. Distinct peptides are identified that can serve as a reference signal for the individual alpha-chains. Homo- and heterotypic cross-linking patterns, some of which have not been described before for bovine collagen, are indicated by comparison of the mass spectrometric data with documented amino acid sequences. Potential cross-linking mechanisms are discussed. For example, the mass spectrometric data suggest that the formation of heterotypic I/III and I/V fibrils is substantially determined by the telo-regions of type I collagen, which are covalently connected to the corresponding helical and nonhelical cross-linking domains of adjacent molecules either by 4D or 0D-stagger bonds. The chemical nature of the cross-links can be concluded. The data also indicate a disturbed formation of heterotypic fibrils. Finally, collagen glycosylation can also be identified.     

Quantitation of type I, III, and V collagens in human tissue samples by high-performance liquid chromatography of selected cyanogen bromide peptides

A method to determine the proportions of the major fiber-forming collagens (types I, III, and V) in noncartilaginous human tissues is presented. The procedure relies on direct solubilization of tissue collagen as cyanogen bromide peptides. The peptides are subjected to cation exchange chromatography followed by gel permeation chromatography in a manner consistent with the rapid resolution and quantitation of relatively low-molecular-weight marker peptides for each collagen. The marker peptides utilized for type I, III, and V collagens are alpha 1 (I)-CB2, alpha 1 (III)-CB2, and alpha 1 (V)-CB1, respectively. Quantitation of the peptides is attained as a function of ultraviolet absorbance during gel permeation chromatography. The nature of the marker peptides, the use of high-performance liquid chromatography techniques, and quantitation of the peptides by ultraviolet absorbance renders the method suitably rapid, sensitive, and accurate for routine evaluations of collagen composition. The utility of the method is illustrated in the presentation of analyses on specimens of placental membranes and blood vessel walls.     

Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for connective tissue components

Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbant assays have been developed for types I, II, III, and IV collagen and for laminin and fibronectin. These assays offer a specific, sensitive, and convenient method for the measurement of various connective tissue components either separately or simultaneously. Plastic microtiter wells are coated with purified antigen, then antibodies to the antigen are allowed to bind to the insolubilized antigen in each well. The amount of bound antibody is determined by incubation with a second antibody which is covalently linked to alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase. The amount of bound enzyme is assayed after adding an appropriate substrate. The level of protein in a sample is estimated from its ability to inhibit the binding of the first antibody to the antigen-coated well. Specificity of the assay depends on the purity of the adsorbed antigen and allows for highly specific tests. Under optimum conditions the sensitivity of the assay is determined by the K_B of the antibody and allows 10–20 ng of a specific type of collagen or laminin and 1 ng fibronectin to be detected.     

Human skin collagen. Presence of type I and type III at all levels of the dermis.

Human skin was sliced with a dermatome, and the ratio of type I to type III collagens at various depths was assayed by comparing the quantities of peptides of each derived from cyanogen bromide digestion of the cut skin. Although immunofluorescent studies have suggested type III collagen is located predominantly beneath the epidermis and around appendages, biochemical determination demonstrates the same ratio of type I to type III collagen at all levels of the dermis even in the absence of cutaneous appendages.     

Characterization and localization of collagens synthesized by cultured muscle cells stimulated with collagen-inducing factor from embryonic brain extracts

A low molecular weight fraction (Mr = 500-1500) was isolated by membrane and gel filtration from rat embryonic brain extract. This fraction was shown to stimulate collagen production in muscle cultures. Procollagen, intermediate collagenous proteins, and collagens of types I, III, and V were identified by analysis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and DEAE- and Cm-cellulose chromatography and by selective degradation by pepsin, bacterial collagenase, and cyanogen bromide. Immunofluorescent staining with antisera to collagen types I, III, IV, and V of muscle cultures treated with the collagen-inducing factor revealed a large increase in staining compared to control cultures and a distinct pattern of staining on the surface of the treated myotubes.     

Monoclonal antibody studies of the antigenic determinants of human plasma retinol-binding protein

A battery of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against human retinol-binding protein (RBP) was produced to obtain useful probes for the study of the antigenic determinants of RBP. The 12 antibodies all reacted with human RBP by immunoblotting. Based on antibody cross-competition radioimmunoassays, four distinct and different groups of antibodies were identified: group I, 1A4 and 2F4; group II, 1G10, 5C5, 6F4, and 7G3; group III, 5H6, 6C7, 10G5, and 14E3; and group IV, 5H9 and 13A1. Information about the epitopes of RBP recognized by these MoAbs was obtained by testing the reactivity of each antibody with human, rabbit, and rat RBPs by immunoblotting. Group I and group IV antibodies reacted to a similar extent with human, rabbit, and rat RBPs. Group II antibodies reacted strongly with human and rabbit RBPs, but reacted very weakly with rat RBP. Group III antibodies reacted strongly with human RBP, but did not react with rabbit or rat RBP. Thus, the epitopes for group I and group IV antibodies appear to be regions of the RBP molecule that are conserved across the three species, whereas group III antibodies recognized only human RBP. In a preliminary study, the reactivity of each antibody with purified cyanogen bromide fragments of RBP was tested by slot immunoblotting. None of the MoAbs reacted with any of the cyanogen bromide fragments. This study shows that MoAbs specific for at least four different regions of the RBP molecule can be produced; hence, RBP contains at least four major antigenic domains.     

Quantitation of Type I to type III collagen ratios in small samples of human tendon,blood vessels,and atherosclerotic plaque

A method is described whereby the ratio of the major interstitial collagens (Types I and III) can be measured in biopsy specimens of human tissue weighing as little as 25 mg. Marker peptides are solubilized from the tissue by digestion with cyanogen bromide. These peptides which are not known to be involved in collagen crosslinking are isolated and quantified by a combination of carboxymethyl-cellulose chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The peptides used are α1(I)-CB7 and α1(III)-CB5. The use of the method is illustrated by analyzing the collagen type ratio in small specimens of tendon, aorta, and vena cava.     

Collagen defects in lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Quantitative and qualitative abnormalities of collagen were observed in tissues and fibroblast cultures from 17 consecutive cases of lethal perinatal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). The content of type I collagen was reduced in OI dermis and bone and the content of type III collagen was also reduced in the dermis. Normal bone contained 99.3% type I and 0.7% type V collagen whereas OI bone contained a lower proportion of type I, a greater proportion of type V and a significant amount of type III collagen. The type III and V collagens appeared to be structurally normal. In contrast, abnormal type I collagen chains, which migrated slowly on electrophoresis, were observed in all babies with OI. Cultured fibroblasts from five babies produced a mixture of normal and abnormal type I collagens; the abnormal collagen was not secreted in two cases and was slowly secreted in the others. Fibroblasts from 12 babies produced only abnormal type I collagens and they were also secreted slowly. The slower electrophoretic migration of the abnormal chains was due to enzymic overmodification of the lysine residues. The distribution of the cyanogen bromide peptides containing the overmodified residues was used to localize the underlying structural abnormalities to three regions of the type I procollagen chains. These regions included the carboxy-propeptide of the pro alpha 1(I)-chain, the helical alpha 1(I) CB7 peptide and the helical alpha 1(I) CB8 and CB3 peptides. In one baby a basic charge mutation was observed in the alpha 1(I) CB7 peptide and in another baby a basic charge mutation was observed in the alpha 1(I) CB8 peptide. The primary defects in lethal perinatal OI appear to reside in the type I collagen chains. Type III and V collagens did not appear to compensate for the deficiency of type I collagen in the tissues.     

Monoclonal antibodies specific for different regions of human apolipoprotein A-I. Characterization of an antibody that does not bind to a genetic variant of apoA-I (Glu----136 Lys)

Three monoclonal mouse hybridoma antibodies, designated 2AI, 4AI, and 5AI, specific for human plasma apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) were characterized. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) each of the antibodies reacted with purified apoA-I and with A-I in normal human serum. Immunoblotting of apoA-I subjected to isoelectric focusing revealed that the three antibodies reacted with all the charge isomorphs of apoA-I and with proapoA-I. Using a solid phase competitive displacement assay, the antigenic determinant for antibody 5AI could be localized to cyanogen bromide fragment 3 of apoA-I (residues 113-148), while the epitope for antibody 4AI resided in cyanogen bromide fragment 4. Dot blot experiments and data obtained by the competitive displacement assay revealed that antibody 2AI reacts with high affinity with CNBr fragment 2 but that it also reacts with lower affinity with fragments 1 and 4. The antibody 5AI did not bind to a genetic variant of apoA-I (Glu----136 Lys), demonstrating that the substitution of a single amino acid in human apoA-I can cause the loss of an antigenic determinant.     

The isolation and characterization of the cyanogen bromide peptides from the B chain of human collagen.

Cleavage of the collagen B chain with cyanogen bromide yields nine peptides which have been isolated and characterized with regard to molecular weight and amino acid composition. The peptides are recovered in equimolar quantities and account for the full amino acid complement of the chain as isolated following limited pepsin digestion of human placental tissue. These data thus confirm the unique composition of the chain and further indicate that the chain has been isolated in essentially pure form. The total number of amino acid residues (1018) observed in the cyanogen bromide peptides of the B chain indicate that it is comparable in length to the previously characterized collagen alpha chains. Thus, the apparent larger size of the B chain noted in previous studies may possibly be attributed to the relatively large quantities of hydroxylysine-linked carbohydrate, but more likely to the increased numbers of large hydrophobic amino acids in the B chain. Although the cyanogen bromide peptide pattern obtained in studies on the B chain serves to differentiate this chain from other known chains, some possible homologies between the B chain peptides and peptides derived from the alpha chains of type I, II, and III collagens are noted.     

Identification of cyanogen bromide peptides involved in intermolecular cross-linking of bovine type III collagen.

Cyanogn bromide peptides derived from bovine type III collagen and containing reducible cross-links were isolated and identified. Two peptides, alpha 1 (III)CB7 and alpha 1 (III)CB9B, from within the helical portion of the molecule were shown to contain the 'amino donor' residues cross-linked to non-helical 'aldehyde donor' residues in the formation of cross-links. This information, in conjunction with previously published data for the order of the cyanogen bromide peptides [Fietzek, Allman, Rauterberg & Wachter (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 84-86], suggests that in type III collagen intermolecular cross-links are located in the end-overlap regions, so as to stabilize a quarter-stagger arrangement of molecules within the fibre in a similar manner to that proposed for type I and type II collagens.     

Type III collagen can be present on banded collagen fibrils regardless of fibril diameter

Monoclonal antibodies that recognize an epitope within the triple helix of type III collagen have been used to examine the distribution of that collagen type in human skin, cornea, amnion, aorta, and tendon. Ultrastructural examination of those tissues indicates antibody binding to collagen fibrils in skin, amnion, aorta, and tendon regardless of the diameter of the fibril. The antibody distribution is unchanged with donor age, site of biopsy, or region of tissue examined. In contrast, antibody applied to adult human cornea localizes to isolated fibrils, which appear randomly throughout the matrix. These studies indicate that type III collagen remains associated with collagen fibrils after removal of the amino and carboxyl propeptides, and suggests that fibrils of skin, tendon, and amnion (and presumably many other tissues that contain both types I and III collagens) are copolymers of at least types I and III collagens.     

A simplified method for quantitation of the relative amounts of type I and type III collagen in small tissue samples

A method is described for the quantitation of the relative amounts of types I and III collagens in rabbit lung tissue. This involved (i) repeated homogenization in the presence of 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate and the production of an acetone dried powder, (ii) reaction with cyanogen bromide, (iii) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and (iv) densitometric scanning of proteins stained by Coomassie blue R-250. Several features of this procedure were shown to offer advantages over methods previously employed. First, the sodium dodecyl sulfate solution was shown to remove the bulk of noncollagen proteins leaving an insoluble residue which could then be reacted with cyanogen bromide without further purification. Second, cyanogen bromide was shown to solubilize essentially all of the collagen in the residue leaving an insoluble pellet with an amino acid analysis similar to elastin. Finally, to facilitate accurate quantitation, types I and III collagen standards were included with each gel so that a standard curve of protein versus staining density could be constructed. This method is assessed to be simpler and more accurate than those employed previously for the quantitation of collagens and can be applied to small tissue samples (<100 mg) such as would be obtained by lung biopsy.     

Detection and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to platelet membrane proteins

We have devised a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against platelet surface antigens. Platelet membrane proteins, solubilized with 0.1% Triton X-100, were covalently coupled to cyanogen bromide (CNBr)-activated filter paper disks that were than used as the support in antibody binding assays. SDS PAGE of solubilized membrane proteins taken immediately before and after incubation with activated disks indicated that representative amounts of each membrane protein were bound to the disks. Either monoclonal or heterologous anti-platelet antibody could be detected on disks that had been prepared using as little as 50 micrograms of membrane protein per 100 disks. For the detection of antibody, disks were incubated with test sera for 2 h, washed, and incubated with 125I-labeled anti-immunoglobulin G, and the amount of bound radioactivity was determined. The sensitivity of the disk assay in detecting monoclonal antibodies was far greater than that of a corresponding radioimmunoassay that used whole platelets as the solid phase. By linking other proteins such as fibrinogen or anti-mouse subclass specific antisera to CNBr-activated disks, the method was adapted for antibody characterization. The sensitivity and ease with which the assay can be performed make this technique most suitable for screening and characterizing monoclonal antibodies.     

Hexon peptides of type 2, 3, and 5 adenoviruses and their relationship to hexon structure.

Peptides of hexons from type 2 and 5 (subgroup III) and type 3 (subgroup I) adenoviruses were produced by treatment with cyanogen bromide and were separated by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels containing 8 M urea. Peptides with identical isoelectric points, but from different hexon types, were considered to have structural similarities. According to this criterion for chemical relatedness, about two-thirds of the type 2 and 5 hexon peptides may be considered similar. In contrast, the majority of the type 3 hexon peptides differed chemically from peptides of type 2 and 5 hexons. Virions and free hexons were iodinated with 125-I in the presence of lactoperoxidase and H-2-O-2. When 125-I-labeled virions were disrupted and the hexon was purified, the highly labeled cyanogen bromide peptides were labeled. When purified hexons from the excess cellular pool were iodinated, peptides common to types 2, 3, and 5 (peptides 12 and 14) were most extensively labeled. Thus, hexons assembled in virions and those free in solution were iodinated differently. The data suggest that immunologically the hexons in viral capsids react differently from unassembled hexons because the polypeptide chains assume slightly different folding configurations in the two hexon forms and therefore expose different regions of the protein to antibodies.     

Detection of Piscirickettsia salmonis in fish tissues by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using specific monoclonal antibodies

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Piscirickettsia salmonis in fish tissue samples was developed. The test uses a combination of different monoclonal antibodies specific against P. salmonis in the capture step of the assay. The antibodies 7G4, 6E2 and 2C1 chosen for the capture step are bound to the solid support with an adhesive protein purified from a bivalve mollusc, resulting in a high yield of adsorption and binding stability. The monoclonal antibody 7G4, used as a second antibody, is conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The resulting ELISA test detected 7 different isolates of P. salmonis and does not cross-react with several other fish pathogens, revealing a high specificity and sensitivity. The test also detects P. salmonis in kidney tissue of infected coho salmon with 98% correlation with the immunofluorescence assay.     

An immunochemical aid to sequence determination of proteins.

A specific radioimmunoassay for peptides has been developed using ¹²⁵I-labeled peptides and a double-antibody precipitation. Cross-reacting peptides are measured by inhibition of the binding of the labeled cyanogen bromide peptide to its antibody. The assay, which allows detection of picomole quantities, was used to monitor the purification of two overlapping tryptic peptides from a complex mixture of peptides. These were shown to contain a portion of the sequence of the radio-labeled cyanogen bromide peptide and a portion of the sequence of a cyanogen bromide peptide which follows in the polypeptide chain. The need to analyze many fractions in a digest in order to locate a desired peptide is thus avoided. The general suitability of this method for the purification of specific peptides from digestion mixtures of other large proteins is discussed.