Collagen Synthesis in Skin Tissue from Patients with Systemic Scleroderma
Synthesis of total and collagenous protein in systemic sclerodermal skin tissue was determined. Biopsy specimens of forearm and abdominal skin from 7 patients with scleroderma and 3 normal subjects were used. The total protein synthesized was measured by the incorporation of radioactive proline using the tissue, and the collagenous protein synthesized was measured by the incorporation of labeled hydroxyproline. The ratio of forearm skin to abdominal skin in scleroderma on total and collagenous protein synthesis per protein was lower than in normal controls. Total and collagenous protein synthesis per protein of forearm skin taken from the scleroderma patients tended to show lower values than those obtained from the normal controls. It was indicated that collagen synthesis per protein decreased in skin tissue from the sclerotic area in scleroderma.
