Serum markers of collagen synthesis and degradation in skin diseases. Altered levels in diseases with systemic manifestation and during systemic glucocorticoid treatment

Abstract

Serum concentrations of the markers of collagen synthesis and degradation, collagen I propeptide (PICP), collagen III propeptide (PIIINP) and the cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were measured in young male dermatological patients and in control subjects. No significant differences were noted between patients suffering from atopic eczema (n = 24), other eczemas (n = 11), acne (n = 8), psoriasis (n = 7) or tinea (n = 9) and the control subjects (n = 24). In the total study population representing patients with common skin diseases and control subjects there was a significant correlation between the serum concentrations of PICP and PIIINP and between the concentrations of PICP and ICTP. This suggests that synthesis of type I and III collagens in vivo is coordinated and that the degradation and synthesis of type I collagen is balanced. These markers were also measured in older patients suffering from psoriasis, eczema and various connective tissue diseases. It was noted that the degree of skin involvement in these diseases was not related to the serum concentrations of the markers of collagen metabolism. The highest levels of PICP and PIIINP were observed in a patient with systemic mastocytosis (PICP 309 micrograms/l and PIIINP 8.0 micrograms/l). Increased levels of PIIINP were also found in patients with a high alcohol consumption. We have previously demonstrated that systemic glucocorticoids reduce collagen propeptide levels in serum. In the present study we also proved that systemic glucocorticoids have no effect on collagen degradation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of short-term antenatal dexamethasone administration on type I collagen synthesis and degradation in preterm infants at birth

“…The present nding of a decrease in type I collagen formation but not in its degradation is similar to the results observed during systemic glucocorticoid treatment for skin diseases (23). Contradictory results, with reductions in the markers of both synthesis and degradation associated with glucocorticoid treatment, have also been observed (24), and Bornefalk et al found that the effect of oral glucocorticoids on bone resorption in acute asthma patients was age-dependent, with a signi cant negative correlation between ICTP change and age as the latter advanced from 20 to 80 y (25).…”

Demonstration of increased collagen synthesis in irradiated human skin in vivo

“…Mean serum concentrations of PICP, PINP and PIIINP were, in our patients, inside the normal reference values, as expected, as serum concentrations rarely reflect local changes in dermal collagen metabolism (Autio et al, 1993). This is the first in vivo demonstration of increased collagen synthesis in human irradiated skin.…”

Markers of collagen metabolism and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 in term infants

“…The PICP/ICTP ratio has been used as an indicator of the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation—for example, systemic glucocorticoid treatment causes a decrease in this ratio 28. Accordingly, the higher PICP/ICTP ratio in LGA infants may reflect increased collagen synthesis.…”