A SPECIAL FIBRIL OF THE DERMIS

A new type of extracellular fibril is described in the dermis of Bufo marinus, Rana pipiens, and Amblystoma punctatum. It is restricted in distribution to the dermal micropapillae and the region immediately below them in the stratum spongiosum. The fibrils (diameter = 200 to 750 A) are lateral aggregates of fine filaments and have a unique banding pattern characterized by absence of recognizable periodicity and by polarization in respect to the basement membrane. Their distal¹ ends are anchored in the basement membrane, and their proximal ends converge in knots located in the middle region of the micropapillae. These anchoring fibrils seem to secure the minute outfoldings of the basement membrane along the dermal-epidermal junction. Comparable, but less frequent, fibrils are also encountered along the proximal aspect of the basement membrane in the skin, lingual mucosa, and mucosa of the gastric fundus in the rat.     

In Vitro Fabrication and Physicochemical Properties of a Hybrid Fibril from Xenogeneic Collagens

A Hybrid collagen fibril (HCF) assembled from xenogeneic collagens is a special kind of collagen fibrils in vivo and plays an important role in living systems. Inspired by nature, can a HCF form in vitro? Herein, we fabricated a new HCF by neutralizing a mixture of type I bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana Shaw) skin collagen and porcine (Sus scrofa domesticus) skin collagen with a phosphate buffer, and investigated its physicochemical properties. Self-assembly kinetics and fluorescence-quenching experiments showed that a significant intermolecular interaction and co-assembly behavior occurred between bullfrog skin collagen and porcine skin collagen, thus confirming that xenogeneic collagens can self-assemble to form HCF. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the thermal stability of HCF was completely different from that of the syngeneic bullfrog skin and porcine skin collagen fibrils. This finding indicated that a new kind of collagen fibril was fabricated successfully. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy tests showed that the diameters and D-periodicity lengths of HCF were smaller than those of the syngeneic collagen fibrils, suggesting that the morphological features of HCF were distinguished from those of the syngeneic fibril samples. Moreover, viscoelasticity of a collagen gel also changed after the self-assembly of xenogeneic collagens. Meanwhile, the obtained hybrid gel still exhibited good biocompatibility and cell proliferation properties. Finding from this work provides a new idea for the improvement or regulation of collagen-based products performance.     

Collagen fibril diameters increase and fibril densities decrease in skin subjected to repetitive compressive and shear stresses

Understanding microstructural changes that occur in skin subjected to repetitive mechanical stress is crucial towards the development of therapies to enhance skin adaptation and load tolerance in patients at risk of skin breakdown (e.g. prosthesis users, wheelchair users). To determine if collagen fibril diameter, collagen fibril density, dermal thickness, epidermal thickness, basement membrane length, and dermal cell density changed in response to repetitive stress application, skin subjected to moderate cyclic compressive and shear stresses for 1 h/d, 5 d/week, for 4 week was compared with skin from an unstressed contralateral control. The lateral aspects of the hind limbs of 12 Landrace/Yorkshire pigs were used. Skin from under the stressed site and a contralateral control site was processed for electron microscopy and light microscopy analysis. Electron microscopy results demonstrated significant (p<0.01) increases in collagen fibril diameter of 15.9%, 22.4%, and 22.9% for the upper, mid, and lower layers of the dermis, respectively, for the stressed skin compared with the control skin. Collagen fibril density (fibrils/unit cross-sectional area) decreased significantly for stressed vs. control by 19.8%, 29.2%, and 31.8% for the upper, mid, and lower layers, respectively. Light microscopy results demonstrated trends of a decrease in dermal thickness and an increase in cell density for stressed vs. control samples, but the differences were not significant. Differences in epidermal thickness and basement membrane length were not significant. These results demonstrate that quantifiable changes occur in collagen fibril architecture but not in the gross tissue morphology following in vivo cyclic loading of pig skin.     

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ibuprofen Binding to Aβ Peptides

Using replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations and the implicit solvent model we probed binding of ibuprofen to Aβ_10-40 monomers and amyloid fibrils. We found that the concave (CV) fibril edge has significantly higher binding affinity for ibuprofen than the convex edge. Furthermore, binding of ibuprofen to Aβ monomers, as compared to fibrils, results in a smaller free energy gain. The difference in binding free energies is likely to be related to the presence of the groove on the CV fibril edge, in which ibuprofen tends to accumulate. The confinement effect of the groove promotes the formation of large low-energy ibuprofen clusters, which rarely occur on the surface of Aβ monomers. These observations led us to suggest that the ibuprofen binding mechanism for Aβ fibrils is different from that for monomers. In general, ibuprofen shows a preference to bind to those regions of Aβ monomers (amino terminal) and fibrils (the CV edge) that are also the primary aggregation interfaces. Based on our findings and on available experimental data, we propose a rationale for the ibuprofen antiaggregation effect.     

Myoblasts are aligned with collagen fibrils in regenerating frog tadpole tails

Myoblasts in the regenerating frog tadpole tail differentiate from mesen chymal cells that lie next to the basement membrane of the epidermis of the tail. As these cells elongate and form myotubes, they orientate uniformly in the longitudinal axis of the tail. The collagen fibrils of the basement membrane adjacent to the myogenic cells are also orientated in the tail axis just prior to and during the time when the myogenic cells are elongating. This has been demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy of thin sections, by differential interference contrast microscopy of isolated basement membranes, and by scanning electron microscopy of the inner surface of the basement membrane. Since elongating myoblasts are in contact with the longitudinally orientated fibrils, the latter could provide directional cues to the elongating myoblasts. This proposition is supported by the finding that isolated basement membranes readily orientate cells that are cultured upon their inner surfaces.     

Particular structure of the anterior third of the human true vocal cord.

The histological aspects of the true vocal cord mucosa change in the anterior third compared with the posterior two thirds. The anterior third is characterized by an epithelium where the ridges, marked in the posterior two thirds, are very slight or even absent. The underlying basement membrane, which is thin in the posterior two thirds, here appears particularly thick. At the ultrastructural level in this area, beneath a normally thickened basal lamina, a thick layer of finely granulated electron-dense material, interspersed with thin and randomly scattered collagen fibrils and proteoglycan filaments, is detectable. Beneath this thickened basement membrane, a layer of small undulated collagen fibril bundles with very numerous interspersed oxytalan fibres is found. The collagen fibrils, small in diameter (30-40 nm), seem to continue with the collagen fibrils of the basement membrane. In this layer numerous blood vessels with a very thick, delaminated basement membrane are also observed. The underlying area is characterized by the vocal cord ligament, composed by large compact collagen fibril bundles with interspersed elastic fibres. The particular features of the thick basement membrane, the thick-walled and delaminated vessels and the modular distribution of the elastic system together may well form the basic structure enabling the functional integration of the vocal ligament into the overlying mucosa and the underlying vocal muscle.     

Hemidesmosomal Molecular Changes in Dermatitis Herpetiformis; Decreased Expression of BP230 and Plectin/HD1 in Uninvolved Skin

Recent BP230-knockout experiments with subsequent blistering and recently identified plectin/HD1 mutations in epidermolysis bullosa simplex patients suggest that defective expression of BP230 and plectin/HD1 may predispose to blister formation in human skin. We have studied the expression of the epithelial adhesion complex as well as the basement membrane and anchoring fibril antigens in uninvolved dermatitis herpetiformis skin to find out if alterations can be detected in these structures predisposing to the blister formation typical of the disease. Ten uninvolved dermatitis herpetiformis skin specimens, which all showed clear granular deposits of IgA under the basement membrane in direct immunofluorescence and five normal skin specimens, were studied by indirect immunofluorescence technique. Six uninvolved dermatitis herpetiformis skin specimens showed distinctly decreased immunoreaction for BP230 and four uninvolved dermatitis herpetiformis skin specimens showed distinctly decreased immunoreaction for plectin/HD1. All five skin controls showed strong immunoreactions for BP230 and plectin/HD1. Other hemidesmosomal proteins including BP180 and integrin 64, as well as basement membrane proteins laminin-5, laminin-1, nidogen and type IV collagen, and the anchoring fibril protein type VII collagen showed a normal strong expression. Our results suggest that alterations in BP230 and plectin/HD1 may contribute or predispose to blister formation in dermatitis herpetiformis skin.     

Surface-bound basement membrane components accelerate amyloid-β peptide nucleation in air-free wells: An in vitro model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is caused by deposition of the amyloid β-peptide which consists of mainly 39–40 residues to the cortical and leptomeningeal vessel walls. There are no definite in vitro systems to support the hypothesis that the vascular basement membrane may act as a scaffold of amyloid β-peptide carried by perivascular drainage flow and accelerate its amyloid fibril formation in vivo. We previously reported the critical roles of interfaces and agitation on the nucleation of amyloid fibrils at low concentrations of amyloid β-peptide monomers. Here, we reproduced the perivascular drainage flow in vitro by using N-hydroxysuccinimide-Sepharose 4 Fast flow beads as an inert stirrer in air-free wells rotated at 1 rpm. We then reproduced the basement membranes in the media of cerebral arteries in vitro by conjugating Matrigel and other proteins on the surface of Sepharose beads. These beads were incubated with 5 μM amyloid β(1–40) at 37 °C without air, where amyloid β(1–40) alone does not form amyloid fibrils. Using the initiation time of fibril growth kinetics (i.e., the lag time of fibril growth during which nuclei, on-pathway oligomers and protofibrils are successively formed) as a parameter of the efficiency of biological molecules to induce amyloid fibril formation, we found that basement membrane components including Matrigel, laminin, fibronectin, collagen type IV and fibrinogen accelerate the initiation of amyloid β-peptide fibril growth in vitro. These data support the essential role of vascular basement membranes in the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.     

COL1A1 C-propeptide mutations cause ER mislocalization of procollagen and impair C-terminal procollagen processing

Mutations in the type I procollagen C-propeptide occur in ~6.5% of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) patients. They are of special interest because this region of procollagen is involved in α chain selection and folding, but is processed prior to fibril assembly and is absent in mature collagen fibrils in tissue. We investigated the consequences of seven COL1A1 C-propeptide mutations for collagen biochemistry in comparison to three probands with classical glycine substitutions in the collagen helix near the C-propeptide and a normal control. Procollagens with C-propeptide defects showed the expected delayed chain incorporation, slow folding and overmodification. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicated that procollagen with C-propeptide defects was mislocalized to the ER lumen, in contrast to the ER membrane localization of normal procollagen and procollagen with helical substitutions. Notably, pericellular processing of procollagen with C-propeptide mutations was defective, with accumulation of pC-collagen and/or reduced production of mature collagen. In vitro cleavage assays with BMP-1 ± PCPE-1 confirmed impaired C-propeptide processing of procollagens containing mutant proα1(I) chains. Overmodified collagens were incorporated into the matrix in culture. Dermal fibrils showed alterations in average diameter and diameter variability and bone fibrils were disorganized. Altered ER-localization and reduced pericellular processing of defective C-propeptides are expected to contribute to abnormal osteoblast differentiation and matrix function, respectively.     

The nerve fibres in the basement membrane and related structures in Saccoglossus horsti (Enteropneusta)

Summary The structure of the basement membrane of Saccoglossus horsti has been examined with the electron microscope. The membrane consists of two lamellae each of two layers. An outer amorphous layer 150 nm across and an inner fibrillar layer 1–3 m across. The fibrils of the fibrillar layer are two sizes, the majority are 5–9 nm in diameter and at least 2 m long. The thicker 30 nm fibrils occur in small patches and have striations with a 30 nm period.Within the lamellae of the basement membrane are blood spaces. The only regularly found structures in these spaces are blood particles some 12–16 nm in diameter.Nerve fibres of varying diameters traverse all the layers of basement membrane. These fibres run longitudinally and obliquely through the basement membrane, and emerge amongst the muscle cells inserted into the coelomic side of the membrane. No motor end plates have been seen. Preliminary observations suggest that many of the nerve fibres have no sheath other than the cell membrane of the fibre itself.The muscle cells are attached to the basement membrane by structures that resemble hemidesmosomes. The blood vessels of Saccoglossus have a basement membrane on the lumenal side of the endothelial cell cytoplasm.I wish to thank Professor J. Z. Young, F. R. S. for continuous encouragement and advice. To Dr. R. Newell I am indebted for the collection and identification of the specimens. I am pleased to acknowledge my debt to Dr. R. Bellairs for the use of electron microscope facilities, and to Mrs. J. Hamilton and Mr. R. Moss for skillful technical assistance.     

A Computational Approach for Identifying the Chemical Factors Involved in the Glycosaminoglycans-Mediated Acceleration of Amyloid Fibril Formation

Background

Amyloid fibril formation is the hallmark of many human diseases, including Alzheimer''s disease, type II diabetes and amyloidosis. Amyloid fibrils deposit in the extracellular space and generally co-localize with the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the basement membrane. GAGs have been shown to accelerate the formation of amyloid fibrils in vitro for a number of protein systems. The high number of data accumulated so far has created the grounds for the construction of a database on the effects of a number of GAGs on different proteins.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we have constructed such a database and have used a computational approach that uses a combination of single parameter and multivariate analyses to identify the main chemical factors that determine the GAG-induced acceleration of amyloid formation. We show that the GAG accelerating effect is mainly governed by three parameters that account for three-fourths of the observed experimental variability: the GAG sulfation state, the solute molarity, and the ratio of protein and GAG molar concentrations. We then combined these three parameters into a single equation that predicts, with reasonable accuracy, the acceleration provided by a given GAG in a given condition.

Conclusions/Significance

In addition to shedding light on the chemical determinants of the protein∶GAG interaction and to providing a novel mathematical predictive tool, our findings highlight the possibility that GAGs may not have such an accelerating effect on protein aggregation under the conditions existing in the basement membrane, given the values of salt molarity and protein∶GAG molar ratio existing under such conditions.     

The effects of ferulic acid on β-amyloid fibrillar structures investigated through experimental and computational techniques

Background

Current research has indicated that small natural compounds could interfere with β-amyloid fibril growth and have the ability to disassemble preformed folded structures. Ferulic acid (FA), which possesses both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties and binds to peptides/proteins, is a potential candidate against amyloidogenesis. The molecular mechanisms connected to this action have not been elucidated in detail yet.

Methods

Here the effects of FA on preformed fibrils are investigated by means of a concerted experimental–computational approach. Spectroscopic techniques, such as FTIR, fluorescence, size exclusion chromatography and confocal microscopy in combination with molecular dynamics simulations are used to identify those features which play a key role in the destabilization of the aggregates.

Results

Experimental findings highlight that FA has disruptive effects on the fibrils. The computational analysis suggests that dissociation of peptides from the amyloid superstructures could take place along the fibril axis and be primarily determined by the cooperative rupture of the backbone hydrogen bonds and of the Asp-Lys salt bridges.

Conclusion

FA clusters could induce a sort of stabilization and tightening of the fibril structure in the short term and its disruption in the long term, inhibiting further fibril re-assembly through FA screening effects.

General significance

The combination of experimental and computational techniques could be successfully used to identify the disrupting action of FA on preformed Aβ fibrils in water solution.     

Dominant-negative Effects of COL7A1 Mutations Can be Rescued by Controlled Overexpression of Normal Collagen VII

Dominant-negative interference by glycine substitution mutations in the COL7A1 gene causes dominant dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DDEB), a skin fragility disorder with mechanically induced blistering. Although qualitative and quantitative alterations of the COL7A1 gene product, collagen VII, underlie DDEB, the lack of direct correlation between mutations and the clinical phenotype has rendered DDEB less amenable to therapeutic targeting. To delineate the molecular mechanisms of DDEB, we used recombinant expression of wild-type (WT) and mutant collagen VII, which contained a naturally occurring COL7A1 mutation, G1776R, G2006D, or G2015E, for characterization of the triple helical molecules. The mutants were co-expressed with WT in equal amounts and could form heterotrimeric hybrid triple helices, as demonstrated by affinity purification and mass spectrometry. The thermal stability of the mutant molecules was strongly decreased, as evident in their sensitivity to trypsin digestion. The helix-to-coil transition, T_m, of the mutant molecules was 31–34 °C, and of WT collagen VII 41 °C. Co-expression of WT with G1776R- or G2006D-collagen VII resulted in partial intracellular retention of the collagen, and mutant collagen VII had reduced ability to support cell adhesion. Intriguingly, controlled overexpression of WT collagen VII gradually improved the thermal stability of the collective of collagen VII molecules. Co-expression in a ratio of 90% WT:10% mutant increased the T_m to 41 °C for G1776R-collagen VII and to 39 °C for G2006D- and G2015E-collagen VII. Therefore, increasing the expression of WT collagen VII in the skin of patients with DDEB can be considered a valid therapeutic approach.Mutations in the collagen VII gene, COL7A1, cause dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB),³ a heritable skin fragility disorder characterized by mechanically induced blistering of the skin and mucosa, and excessive scarring (1). DEB is classified into clinical subtypes with dominant or recessive inheritance (2), and so far more than 400 different COL7A1 mutations are known, which underlie a broad spectrum of clinical presentations.Collagen VII is the major molecular constituent of anchoring fibrils in the skin. These centro-symmetrically banded fibrils extend from the epidermal basement membrane into the underlying dermal stroma and connect the epidermis to the dermis. Collagen VII is synthesized as three identical pro-α1(VII) polypeptide chains, which are hydroxylated and glycosylated in a coordinated manner and then fold into triple-helical procollagen VII in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The procollagen, which contains a central collagenous triple-helix flanked by two non-collagenous domains, NC-1 and NC-2, is secreted into the extracellular space, where the C-terminal NC-2 propeptide is proteolytically removed by bone morphogenetic protein-1 (3). Subsequently, mature collagen VII undergoes a multistep fibril polymerization process to form the anchoring fibrils (4).The pathology in DDEB has been thought to result from negative interference of mutant pro-α1(VII) chains that are incorporated into the triple-helical monomers and affect folding and registration of normal polypeptides. Typically, substitution of a glycine within the collagenous domain by a larger amino acid residue causes imperfections and delays in triple-helix folding and increased post-translational modifications (5). These can have different consequences: 1) newly synthesized mutant pro-α(VII) chains or procollagen VII molecules do not pass the ER quality control and are retained in the ER or designated for ubiquitin-proteasome degradation (6), resulting in reduced amounts of collagen VII in the skin; 2) assembly into loosely folded collagen VII monomers, which are secreted, incorporated into anchoring fibrils, and perturb the fibril architecture and render them sensitive to tissue proteases; 3) a combination of the above. All variants lead to paucity of anchoring fibrils at the dermal-epidermal junction, impaired resistance of the skin to shearing forces, and to skin blistering as a clinical symptom.Accessibility makes the skin an ideal organ for testing of molecular therapies. Development of causal treatments for DEB is urged by the severe impact of permanent skin fragility on the life of affected individuals. Therapeutic considerations for DDEB have included an array of approaches including oligonucleotides and oligoribonucleotides (7, 8). Intriguingly, findings in a mouse model for epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a skin fragility disorder associated with dominant keratin mutations, delivered first evidence that increasing the ratio of wild-type (WT) to mutated polypeptides may improve the phenotype (9). Furthermore, our recent investigation of the collagen VII hypomorphic mouse suggested that relatively small biological changes, e.g. moderately raised levels of collagen VII, can have substantial clinical effects (10). These observations encouraged us to test the possibility that controlled overexpression of normal collagen VII may have therapeutic potential for DDEB.Here we used protein biochemical, mass spectrometry and cell biological in vitro analysis to show that mutant α1(VII) chains can fold with WT α1(VII) chains into hybrid triple helices and exert dominant-negative interference on the protein function. The resulting destabilization and partial intracellular accumulation of the mutant molecules can be diminished by controlled overexpression of WT collagen VII.     

The nanometer-scale structure of amyloid-Β visualized by atomic force microscopy

Amyloid-Β (AΒ) is the major protein component of neuritic plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. Evidence suggests that the physical aggregation state of AΒ directly influences neurotoxicity and specific cellular biochemical events. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the three-dimensional structure of aggregated AΒ and characterize aggregate/fibril size, structure, and distribution. Aggregates are characterized by fibril length and packing densities. The packing densities correspond to the differential thickness of fiber aggregates along az axis (fiber height above thex-y imaging surface). Densely packed aggregates (≥100 nm thick) were observed. At the edges of these densely packed regions and in dispersed regions, three types of AΒ fibrils were observed. These were classified by fibril thickness into three size ranges: 2–3 nm thick, 4–6 nm thick, and 8–12 nm thick. Some of the two thicker classes of fibrils exhibited pronounced axial periodicity. Substructural features observed included fibril branching or annealing and a height periodicity which varied with fibril thickness. When identical samples were visualized with AFM and electron microscopy (EM) the thicker fibrils (4–6 nm and 8–12 nm thick) had similar morphology. In comparison, the densely packed regions of ～≥100 nm thickness observed by AFM were difficult to resolve by EM. The small, 2- to 3-nm-thick, fibrils were not observed by EM even though they were routinely imaged by AFM. These studies demonstrate that AFM imaging of AΒ fibrils can, for the first time, resolve nanometer-scale,z-axis, surface-height (thickness) fibril features. Concurrentx-y surface scans of fibrils reveal the surface submicrometer structure and organization of aggregated AΒ. Thus, when AFM imaging of AΒ is combined with, and correlated to, careful studies of cellular AΒ toxicity it may be possible to relate certain AΒ structural features to cellular neurotoxicity.     

Branching in Amyloid Fibril Growth

Using the peptide hormone glucagon and Aβ(1-40) as model systems, we have sought to elucidate the mechanisms by which fibrils grow and multiply. We here present real-time observations of growing fibrils at a single-fibril level. Growing from preformed seeds, glucagon fibrils were able to generate new fibril ends by continuously branching into new fibrils. To our knowledge, this is the first time amyloid fibril branching has been observed in real-time. Glucagon fibrils formed by branching always grew in the forward direction of the parent fibril with a preferred angle of 35-40°. Furthermore, branching never occurred at the tip of the parent fibril. In contrast, in a previous study by some of us, Aβ(1-40) fibrils grew exclusively by elongation of preformed seeds. Fibrillation kinetics in bulk solution were characterized by light scattering. A growth process with branching, or other processes that generate new ends from existing fibrils, should theoretically give rise to different fibrillation kinetics than growth without such a process. We show that the effect of adding seeds should be particularly different in the two cases. Our light-scattering data on glucagon and Aβ(1-40) confirm this theoretical prediction, demonstrating the central role of fibril-dependent nucleation in amyloid fibril growth     

Fine structure of the dogfish egg case: A unique collagenous material

The fine structure of the dogfish egg case is described with special reference to the highly ordered, unique, collagen-containing fibrils. The outer layer of the case wall contains densely packed, amorphous granules, rich in tyrosine while approximately 98% of the thickness of the case is built up from orthogonally stacked laminae of closely packed, collagen-containing fibrils. These fibrils show a paracrystalline three-dimensional construction. A model for the structure of the B band of the fibril is proposed, based on appearances in transverse sections of different thickness and on two projections seen in longitudinal sections. The transverse projection of the unit cell appears to be a square lattice with sides approximately 110 Å possibly containing a pseudocell with sides $\text{110}\text{4}$ Å. The structure of these fibrils is discussed in relation to those of rat tail tendon collagen.     

Abnormal collagen fibril structure of skin in chronic haemodialysis patients: An electron microscopic study

The structure of collagen fibrils of skin in chronic haemodialysis patients was studied by electron microscopy. Although, in all patients, the parallel packing of the fibrils remained, there were areas with disorganization. The periodicity D as well as the banding pattern were normal. The most conspicuous finding of the work presented here is that in all patients the fibril diameters were significantly smaller than those from normal age-matched control subjects. Also, the former showed a much higher degree of variability in width of collagen fibrils than the latter.     

Solar Ultraviolet Irradiation Induces Decorin Degradation in Human Skin Likely via Neutrophil Elastase

Exposure of human skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation induces matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity, which degrades type I collagen fibrils. Type I collagen is the most abundant protein in skin and constitutes the majority of skin connective tissue (dermis). Degradation of collagen fibrils impairs the structure and function of skin that characterize skin aging. Decorin is the predominant proteoglycan in human dermis. In model systems, decorin binds to and protects type I collagen fibrils from proteolytic degradation by enzymes such as MMP-1. Little is known regarding alterations of decorin in response to UV irradiation. We found that solar-simulated UV irradiation of human skin in vivo stimulated substantial decorin degradation, with kinetics similar to infiltration of polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells. Proteases that were released from isolated PMN cells degraded decorin in vitro. A highly selective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase blocked decorin breakdown by proteases released from PMN cells. Furthermore, purified neutrophil elastase cleaved decorin in vitro and generated fragments with similar molecular weights as those resulting from protease activity released from PMN cells, and as observed in UV-irradiated human skin. Cleavage of decorin by neutrophil elastase significantly augmented fragmentation of type I collagen fibrils by MMP-1. Taken together, these data indicate that PMN cell proteases, especially neutrophil elastase, degrade decorin, and this degradation renders collagen fibrils more susceptible to MMP-1 cleavage. These data identify decorin degradation and neutrophil elastase as potential therapeutic targets for mitigating sun exposure-induced collagen fibril degradation in human skin.     

Interpretation of the electron microscopical appearance of collagen fibrils from corneal stroma

The appearance in the electron microscope of mechanically-dispersed corneal collagen has been observed after positive staining with phosphotungstic acid and/or uranyl acetate and after negative staining with phosphotungstate ions. The distributions of positive stains (both cationic and anionic) were similar to those observed in other type I collagens (e.g. skin, tendon). A high correlation was found between charge density in the fibril and the distribution of charged amino acids predicted from the sequence of calf skin collagen. This correlation could be improved by including type III sequence data, suggesting the presence of 20% type III collagen within each fibril. Negative staining showed the usual collagen D-periodicity but without a clear gap/overlap structure. Detailed analysis revealed at least six sites where stain penetration was inhibited. Specific staining of glycosides using N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine(TEMED)-osmate suggested that these sites identify the covalent attachment of disaccharides to the collagen. Using synchroton X-ray diffraction from TEMED-osmate stained corneas we have determined the locations of the stain ions (and hence the glycosides) in the moist tissue. The results demonstrate that even though the detailed charge distribution and axial molecular packing in corneal collagen are similar to other type I collalgens, carbohydrate material, probably disaccharide, is attached at fairly regular intervals. This does not occur in other type I collagens. In particular, the presence of glycoside in the overlap region may play a role in producing the narrow uniform fibrils which are essential for the transparency of the cornea.     

Amyloid toxicity in skeletal myoblasts: Implications for inclusion-body myositis

Skeletal muscle disorder, inclusion-body myositis (IBM) has been known for accumulation of amyloid characteristic proteins in muscle. To understand the biophysical basis of IBM, the interaction of amyloid fibrils with skeletal myoblast cells (SMC) has been studied in vitro. Synthetic insulin fibrils and Aβ_25-35 fibrils were used for this investigation. From the saturation binding analysis, the calculated dissociation constant (K_d) for insulin fibril and Aβ_25-35 fibrils were 69.37 ± 11.17 nM and 115.60 ± 12.17 nM, respectively. The fibrillar insulin comparatively has higher affinity binding to SMC than Aβ fibrils. The competitive binding studies with native insulin showed that the amount of bound insulin fibril was significantly decreased due to displacement of native insulin. However, the presence of native insulin is not altered the binding of β-amyloid fibril. The cytotoxicity of insulin amyloid intermediates was measured. The pre-fibrillar intermediates of insulin showed significant toxicity (35%) as compared to matured fibrils. Myoblast treated with β-amyloid fibrils showed more oxidative damage than the insulin fibril. Cell differentiating action of amyloidic insulin was assayed by creatine kinase activity. The insulin fibril treated cells differentiated more slowly compared to native insulin. However, β-amyloid fibrils do not show cell differentiation property. These findings reinforce the hypothesis that accumulation of amyloid related proteins is significant for the pathological events that could lead to muscle degeneration and weakness in IBM.