Identification of stable intermolecular crosslinks present in reconstituted native collagen fibers

Collagen degradation by interleukin-1beta-stimulated gingival fibroblasts is accompanied by release and activation of multiple matrix metalloproteinases and cysteine proteinases

OBJECTIVE

Several collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have recently been identified in gingival fibroblasts, while secreted cysteine proteinases could also participate in connective tissue destruction in periodontitis. To clarify their involvement, we examined enzyme release during collagen breakdown by cultured cytokine-stimulated fibroblasts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gingival fibroblasts were derived from four chronic periodontitis patients and cultured on collagen gels in serum-free medium for 1-4 days. Collagenolysis was measured by hydroxyproline release into the medium. Proteinases were assessed by electrophoresis and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Adding interleukin-1beta resulted in progressive gel breakdown. This was associated particularly with a shift in MMP-1 band position from proenzyme to active enzyme and the appearance of active as well as proenzyme forms of cathepsin B. There was also partial processing of pro-MMP-13 and increased immunoreactivity for active cathepsin L. In addition, both pro-forms and active forms of MMP-8, membrane-type-1-MMP and MMP-2 were present in control and treated cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

Fibroblast MMP-1 was most likely responsible for collagen dissolution in the culture model, while cathepsin B may have been part of an activation pathway. All studied proteinases contribute to extracellular matrix destruction in inflamed gingival tissue, where they probably activate each other in proteolytic cascades.

Memorial lecture: Verzár's ideas on the age-dependent protein cross-linking in the light of the present knowledge

This lecture was aimed to commemorate the centenary of the birthday (18 September 1886) of Fritz Verzár, one of the most important European founders of experimental gerontology. He was an exceptionally creative scientist who contributed considerably to the development of physiology in this century: he achieved important results in the fields of intestinal absorption, in the adrenal gland's function, and finally, from 1952 until his death (1979), he was creator, promotor and one of the best leaders of experimental gerontology. His idea about the age-dependent cross-linking of protein molecules as a general cause of cell aging--studied by him mainly using the collagen as a model, however, extended also to the nucleoproteins--was a pioneer's work. Yet, its significance was not immediately recognized, the contemporary scientists could not interpret his thoughts in the terms of test-tube biochemistry. However, about a decade later, in the sixties and afterwards, an increasing body of evidence has been accumulated indicating that Verzár was right: the most general age-dependent alteration of the proteins in the living systems known so far is a posttranslational modification of their structure and conformation due to the aggressive effects of the oxygen free radicals. Consequences of these thoughts are being realized nowadays in theory and practice. The present generation of scientists expresses its respect and recognition to Fritz Verzár whose life and activity have been teaching us that aging can be understood, if we find the proper theoretical approach to it.

Binding of lysyl oxidase to fibrils of type I collagen

The binding of highly purified bovine aortic lysyl oxidase to native fibrils of type I collagen has been measured by assay of unbound lysyl oxidase activity in the supernatants of enzyme-collagen mixtures after centrifugation. The apparent binding affinity of lysyl oxidase for native fibrils is quite similar to that for fibrils prepared from pepsin- or chymotrypsin-digested type I collagen, demonstrating that the enzyme binds to the triple-helical portion of collagen molecules. The data also indicate that the enzyme binds predominantly to the fibrillar surface. The results suggest that lysyl oxidase initiates crosslink formation at an early stage in collagen fibrillogenesis.

Some observations on the ageing in vitro of reprecipitated collagen fibres

The changes in solubility and amounts of reducible cross-links have been studied during "ageing" in vitro of reprecipitated rat skin collagen fibres by incubation at 37 degrees C. Fibres from pre-reduced collagen devoid of aldehyde precursors became insoluble at the same rate as that of normal fibres during "ageing". Insolubilization occurred at a much faster rate in the presence of oxygen than in air and was almost completely inhibited when oxygen was excluded. The rate of decline of the reducible cross-links was, however, unaffected by oxygen tension. The results indicate that, during "ageing" in vitro, conversion of the lysine-derived cross-links to a non-reducible form is not associated with solubility changes. The relationship of these in vitro changes to those ocurring in vivo is unknown.

Lysyl oxidase activity in human normal skins and postburn scars

Lysyl oxidase activity of human normal skins derived from the frontal thighs of 33 subjects showed large variations and the mean value was 11 455 +/- 7 172 (S.D.) cpm/g of wet weight tissue. The age of lesion affected the lysyl oxidase activity in postburn scars. Granulation tissues showed a fairly low activity; however, the activity increased sharply within 2--3 months, and reached a significantly higher value than that of normal skin. The high level of activity continued for up to 2--3 years, then gradually decreased to normal range after 5 years or so. Lysyl oxidase activity was detected only after 4 M urea treatment of tissues. Benzylamine oxidase activity also showed large variations in both normal skins and postburn scars, with mean values of: 0.128 +/- 0.077 (S.D.) and 0.145 +/- 0.090 (S.D.) mmol/g of wet weight/h, respectively. No correlation was observed between lysyl oxidase and benzylamine oxidase activities. The granulation tissues showed significantly high values of benzylamine oxidase activity in contrast to the low values of lysyl oxidase activity.

Biosynthesis of collagen crosslinks: increased activity of purified lysyl oxidase with reconstituted collagen fibrils

Lysyl oxidase catalyzes the formation of crosslinking aldehydes in collagen and elastin. This report demonstrates that the enzyme has high activity with collagen precipitated as native fibrils, an apparent K(m) of 0.95 muM, and low activity toward either soluble forms such as denatured collagen, isolated alpha chain, or isolated alpha1-CBl peptide, or precipitated collagen fibrils after pepsin treatment. These results indicate that the biosynthesis of the aldehyde crosslink intermediate probably occurs primarily after the onset of fibril formation in vivo. Biosynthesis of aldehydes and subsequent crosslinks may be related to the rate of fibril formation as well as to the concentration of lysyl oxidase in vivo.

Cross-linking of collagen

The formation of collagen cross-links is attributable to the presence of two aldehyde-containing amino acids which react with other amino acids in collagen to generate difunctional, trifunctional, and tetrafunctional cross-links. A necessary prerequisite for the development of these cross-links is that the collagen molecules be assembled in the naturally occurring fibrous polymer. Once this condition is met, cross-linking occurs in a spontaneous, progressive fashion. The chemical structures of the cross-links dictate that very precise intermolecular alignments must occur in the collagen polymer. This seems to be a function of each specific collagen because the relative abundance of the different cross-links varies markedly, depending upon the tissue of origin of the collagen.

The chemistry of the collagen cross-links. Age-related changes in the reducible components of intact bovine collagen fibres

The change in the amounts of the three major reducible cross-links was followed throughout the bovine-life span. The major reducible cross-link in embryonic skin is 6,7-dehydro-N(epsilon) -(2-hydroxy-5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)hydroxylysine, but this is gradually replaced in the latter stages of gestation or early postnatal growth period by two other Schiff bases, 6,7-dehydro-N(epsilon)-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)hydroxylysine and a component not yet identified, designated Fraction C. These latter two Schiff bases increase in amount during the rapid growth period to a maximum, after which they then slowly decrease until at maturity they are virtually absent. The proportion of these Schiff bases closely reflects the rate of growth, i.e. the amount of newly synthesized collagen present at any one time. Similarly, the three Schiff bases present in tendon and the one in cartilage slowly decrease during maturation. No evidence for the possible stabilization of these aldimine bonds during maturation by reduction in vivo was found by three different analytical techniques. Concurrently with the decrease in the proportion of the Schiff bases some new reducible components increased during maturation, but their characterization as N(epsilon)-glycosylamines demonstrated that they were not related to the lysine-derived aldehyde components. The significance of these components in the aging process cannot at present be assessed. As no evidence was obtained for any new reducible cross-links replacing the Schiff bases, it is probable that the latter are intermediate cross-links and that during maturation they are stabilized to some as yet unknown non-reducible cross-link as previously proposed (Bailey, 1968).