Publication Type	Academic Article
Authors	Horwitz A, Hance A, Crystal R
Journal	Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume	74
Issue	3
Pagination	897-901
Date Published	03/01/1977
ISSN	0027-8424
Keywords	Fibroblasts, Macrophages, Microbial Collagenase, Neutrophils
Abstract	Collagenases produced by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, human lung fibroblasts, and rabbit pulmonary alveolar macrophages were compared in their ability to digest soluble native type I and type III collagens. While the fibroblast and macrophage collagenases attacked the two substrates at approximately equal rates, the leukocyte collagenase attacked type I collagen preferentially (15:1) in comparison to type III collagen. This was true with human or rabbit collagen substrates. Thus, proteolysis of collagen, particularly in acute inflammation, may have a significant role in controlling the types of collagen present in connective tissue.
DOI	10.1073/pnas.74.3.897
PubMed ID	191839
PubMed Central ID	PMC430521