PROTEOGLYCANS AND COLLAGENASE IN HYPERTROPHIC SCAR FORMATION

Abstract
The collagen fibers of the nodules and whorl-like figures in hypertrophic scars are "coated" with proteoglycans, mainly chondroitin-4-sulfate. The latter was shown to prevent collagenase from breaking down collagen. This suggests that the presence of great amounts of chondroitin-4-sulfate in hypertrophic scars may contribute to the overabundance of collagen deposition which is characteristic of this abnormal healing process.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: