Molecular and tissue alterations of collagens in fibrosis

Sylvie Ricard-Blum (1) , Georges Baffet (2) , Nathalie Théret (2)

1 ASPE - Assemblages Supramoléculaires Péricellulaires et Extracellulaires
2 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail

The collagen network is altered in fibrotic diseases associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) biosynthesis and remodeling. This mini-review focuses on the quantitative and qualitative modifications of collagens occurring at the molecular and tissue levels in fibrosis. They result from changes in collagen expression, biosynthesis, enzymatic cross-linking and degradation by several protease families. These molecular modifications, which are mostly regulated by TGF-β, are associated with altered collagen organization at the tissue level, leading to a fibrotic signature that can be analyzed by Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy.

Mots clés: Cross-linking; Collagens; Second harmonic generation microscopy; Fibrosis; Biomarkers; Second Harmonic Generation

Domaines: Génomique, Transcriptomique et Protéomique [q-bio.GN]

Sylvie Ricard-Blum, Georges Baffet, Nathalie Théret. Molecular and tissue alterations of collagens in fibrosis. Matrix Biology, 2018, 68-69, pp.122-149. ⟨10.1016/j.matbio.2018.02.004⟩. ⟨hal-01808771⟩