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Collagenolytic activity in experimental intestinal anastomoses

Differences between small and large bowel and evidence for the presence of collagenase

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Abstract

Collagen degradation is thought to be an integral part of the healing sequence of intestinal anastomoses, but almost nothing is known about the enzyme activities involved. We have studied collagenolytic activities, extracted from 1 day-old intestinal anastomoses in the rat. Using either soluble type I collagen or fibrillar type I or type III collagen as a substrate, activities measured in extracts from anastomotic segments were compared to those in extracts from uninjured intestine, removed at operation: in all cases, the collagenolytic activity in anastomotic extracts was significantly higher. This increase was significantly more pronounced in large bowel than in small bowel. The activities were strongly inhibited by serum and metallo-chelating compounds. Analysis, by means of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, of the reaction products of the degradation of fibrillar type I collagen by the extracts revealed the presence of a multitude of fragments, amongst them TcA fragments characteristic for the activity of mammalian collagenase. Thus, the degradative capacity towards various collagen substrates is enhanced in the anastomotic area during the first postoperative period and a true mammalian collagenase is one of the enzymes present.

Résumé

On pense que la dégradation du collagène joue un rôle important dans la séquence de cicatrisation des anastomoses intestinales, mais on ne connait presque rien des activités enzymatiques concernées. Nous avons étudié les activités collagénolytiques extraites d'anastomoses intestinales d'un jour chez le rat. Utilisant soit un collagène soluble type I ou fibrillaire Type I ou un collagène type III comme substrat. Les activités mesurées dans les extraits provenant des segments anastomotiques ont été comparées à celles des extraits provenant d'un intestin non traumatisé enlevé au cours d'une intervention: dans tous les cas l'activité collagénolytique des extraits anastomotiques est significativement plus élevée. Cette augmentation était significativement plus prononcée au niveau du colon que de l'intestin grèle. Les activités étaient considérablement inhibées par le serum ou par des composés métallo-chélateurs. Les analyses, au moyen d'une électrophorèse de gel SDS-polyacrylamide, des réactions produites par les extraits de la dégradation de collagène fibrillaire type I révélaient la présence d'une multitude de fragments, parmi lesquels des fragments TA caractéristiques d'une activité de collagénase de mammifère. Ainsi la capacité de dégradation envers divers substrats de collagène est renforcée dans la zone anastomotique durant la première pérìode postopératoire et une véritable collagénase de mammifère est un des enzymes présents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Academic Hospital, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. W. J. van der Stappen, Th. Hendriks, H. H. M. de Boer & B. M. de Man

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    J. J. H. H. M. de Pont

Authors
  1. J. W. J. van der Stappen
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  2. Th. Hendriks
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  3. H. H. M. de Boer
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  4. B. M. de Man
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  5. J. J. H. H. M. de Pont
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van der Stappen, J.W.J., Hendriks, T., de Boer, H.H.M. et al. Collagenolytic activity in experimental intestinal anastomoses. Int J Colorect Dis 7, 95–101 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341294

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341294

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