-Among-the-major-functions-of-these-cells-is-the-production-of-appropriate-extracellular-matrix-primarily-composed-of-collagens-and-proteoglycans-a

To determine whether matrix synthesis varies with respect to maturational stage and in which cell populations different collagens are expressed, bovine growth plates were analyzed by in situ hybridization to mRNA and by Northern blot hybridization. The most abundant collagen mRNA in the growth plate was type-II collagen. This mRNA was present at relatively low levels in the most immature cells of the growth plate but increased several-fold as cells entered the proliferative stage and remained high through subsequent phases of maturation. Type-XI collagen mRNA and mRNA for the cartilage-characteristic proteoglycan, aggrecan, were codistributed with the type-II collagen mRNA; however, both were present in much smaller quantities. Type-X procollagen mRNA was localized to chondrocytes late in their maturation and was expressed at levels similar to the expression of type-II collagen. In situ hybridization of serial sections revealed that growth plate chondrocytes in their more mature stages contain both type-II and type-X collagen mRNA.

Type-I collagen mRNA was not observed in growth plate chondrocytes at any maturational stage; rather, it was localized to a morphologically distinct population of cells attached to calcifying cartilage septa in the region of vascular invasion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT supplement for collagen )Detection of IgG autoantibodies in the sera of patients with bullous and gestational pemphigoid: ELISA studies utilizing a baculovirus-encoded form of Autoantibodies against the extracellular domain of bullous pemphigoid antigen 2 (BPAG2) are thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid and their detection may thus be of diagnostic and prognostic value. The aim of this study was to develop a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing the baculovirus-derived protein BV13 (extracellular domain of BPAG2 devoid of 68 amino acids at the C terminus linked to glutathione-S-transferase and 6x His tag) to detect BPAG2-specific autoantibodies. For the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, nickel agarose affinity-purified BV13 protein was incubated with sera from patients with bullous pemphigoid (n = 39), gestational pemphigoid (n = 10), and pemphigus vulgaris/pemphigus foliaceus (PV/PF; n = 15), or normal human sera (NHS; n = 18). Nickel affinity-purified proteins from wild-type baculovirus-infected insect cells served as a control. A positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay value was defined as reactivity (OD(BV13) - OD(WT)) > mean reactivity + 1 SD of the negative control sera (PV/PF; NHS). Thirty-five of 39 bullous pemphigoid sera and 10 of 10 gestational pemphigoid sera were reactive to BPAG2 compared with none of 15 PV/PF sera and one of 18 NHS (sensitivity, 91%; specificity, 97%).





Of 16 BPAG2-reactive sera in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, only six were BPAG2-reactive in the western blot, whereas 14 sera immunoprecipitated BPAG2 from extracts of epidermal keratinocytes. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing an eukaryotic BPAG2 protein thus seems to be highly sensitive and specific in the detection of BPAG2-specific antibodies and, hence, may be useful in the diagnosis of bullous autoimmune diseases, such as bullous pemphigoid and gestational pemphigoid.Disparity of dietary effects on collagen characteristics and toughness between Manipulation of growth rate and/or diet has been shown to affect protein turnover and may be used to improve beef quality. This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of average daily gain (ADG) and diet on animal performance, collagen characteristics and beef quality of two different muscles; longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST). Seventy six Hereford and Angus steers were assigned to three dietary management regimens for finishing: high grain diet based on corn (n=28), alfalfa pasture (n=22) and grass pasture (n=26). Average daily gains were greater (P<001) in Herefords vs. Order immediately and for corn- vs.

pasture finished cattle. Overall, total collagen content was greater (P<001) and the percentage of total collagen that was heat soluble was lower (P<0001) for ST than for LD muscle. The lowest (P<05) values for both total and heat soluble collagens were found in animals finished on corn. WBSF values for LD were greater (P<01) in grass-fed vs. alfalfa- and grain-finished cattle while there was no difference in WBSF values for ST between grass- and corn-fed animals. No correlation between ADG and WBSF was observed for any muscle. ADG was not correlated with collagen solubility in ST, but was correlated (P<05) with collagen solubility in LD.

A key finding is that growth rate affected heat soluble collagen in the two muscles to a different extent. In conclusion, this study shows that different feeding strategies may not influence the tenderness Regional mechanics determine collagen fiber structure in healing myocardial Following myocardial infarction, the mechanical properties of the healing infarct are an important determinant of heart function and the risk of progression to heart failure. In particular, mechanical anisotropy (having different mechanical properties in different directions) in the healing infarct can preserve pump function of the heart.