What is collagen?
| Collagen is the primary component of connective tissue, distributed in the skin, bones, tendons, cartilage, and other locations. It also forms the extracellular matrix and basement membrane networks. There are many types of collagen, with types I to IV being common. Different collagens make up different connective tissues; however, what remains consistent is that the synthesis and degradation of collagen are crucial biomarkers for studying connective tissue injury and repair. |
Classification and Function
- Type I Collagen (Collagen I) is the most abundant collagen in the human body, found in skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, and scar tissue. The loss of Collagen I is a key biomarker for studying bone, tendon, and ligament injuries; conversely, Collagen I proliferation is a primary indicator for assessing the repair of these connective tissues (especially after treatment). Additionally, Collagen I is one of the main proteins responsible for fibrosis, making it a critical biomarker for post-inflammatory fibrosis.
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- Type II and Type X Collagen: Collagen II is found in chondrocytes (cartilage cells); Collagen X is found in hypertrophic chondrocytes. Studying cartilage injury and repair requires examining these two biomarkers.
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- Type III Collagen (Collagen III) is distributed in the dermis, aorta, reticular fibers, and other locations. Its main function is to maintain tissue elasticity and basic structure. Collagen III often forms protein networks in the extracellular matrix together with Collagen I to provide structural support. It is known that the upregulation or downregulation of Collagen III and Collagen I influences disease progression and prognosis. For example, Collagen III is more abundant in the early stages of wound healing, transitioning to more Collagen I if the wound heals completely.
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- Type IV Collagen (Collagen IV) is located in the basement membrane and is often used as a biomarker for it. It is also frequently used alongside the endothelial biomarker CD31 to study angiogenesis (blood vessel formation).
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