The effect of exposure to extremely low frequency-electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF: 3 mT, 60 Hz) on differentiation of mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells was examined together with addition of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). As a marker of the differentiation, the cellular collagen content was determined by the absorbance of Sirius red-stained cells measured at the wavelength of 510-520 n...

Type I collagen is extracellular matrix protein composed of two α1(I) and one α2(I) polypeptides that fold into triple helix. Collagen polypeptides are translated in coordination to synchronize the rate of triple helix folding to the rate of posttranslational modifications of individual polypeptides. This is especially important in conditions of high collagen production, like fibrosis. It has b...

Enzymically isolated rabbit aortic smooth-muscle cells (SMC) in the first few days of primary culture express a 'contractile phenotype', but with time these cells modulate to a 'synthetic phenotype'. Synthetic-state SMC are able to proliferate, and, provided that they undergo fewer than 5 cumulative population doublings, return to the contractile phenotype after reaching confluency [Campbell, K...

Abstract In tissue engineering, bioactive materials play an important role, providing structural support, cell regulation and establishing a suitable microenvironment to promote regeneration. As the main component of extracellular matrix, collagen is natural material it has been widely used in scientific research clinical applications. Collagen available from wide range animal origin, can be pr...

Suppression of collagen synthesis is a major therapeutic goal in treatment of fibrotic disorders. We show here that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a neuropeptide well known for its pigment-inducing capacity, modulates collagen synthesis and deposition. AlphaMSH in vitro suppresses the synthesis of collagen type I, III and V and down-regulates the secretion of procollagen type...

Procollagen propeptides increase in the CSF after subarachnoid haemorrhage, reflecting increased collagen synthesis in the arachnoid. We studied the induction of dural collagen synthesis after cerebral trauma by measuring the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in 17 subdural haematoma or effusion fluid sample...

Integrin α1β1 binding to collagen IV, which is mediated by the α1-inserted (I) domain, down-regulates collagen synthesis. When unligated, a salt bridge between Arg(287) and Glu(317) is thought to keep this domain in a low affinity conformation. Ligand binding opens the salt bridge leading to a high-affinity conformation. How modulating integrin α1β1 affinity alters collagen homeostasis is unkno...

In the developing chick embryo tibia type X collagen is synthesized by chondrocytes from regions of hypertrophy and not by chondrocytes from other regions (Capasso, O., G. Tajana, and R. Cancedda, 1984, Mol. Cell. Biol. 4:1163-1168; Schmid, T. M., and T. F. Linsenmayer, 1985, Dev. Biol. 107:375-381). To investigate further the relationship between differentiation of endochondral chondrocytes an...

Fibroproliferative diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. They are characterized by reactive fibrosis caused by uncontrolled synthesis of type I collagen. There is no cure for fibrosis and development of therapeutics that can inhibit collagen synthesis is urgently needed. Collagen α1(I) mRNA and α2(I) mRNA encode for type I collagen and they have a unique 5' stem-loop struct...

The primary pathological change in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PM-OP) is bone collagen loss caused by estrogen depletion. Osteoblasts synthesize type I collagen, which composes the organic matrix of bone. Although isopsoralen stimulates osteoblastic cell proliferation and differentiation, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is an important cell signaling factor for stimulating collagen synthes...