Accelerated Type VII collagen turnover in systemic sclerosis patients, reflected by serological neo-epitope fragment biomarkers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by microvasculopathy, autoantibody production, and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Disrupted collagen turnover in SSc leads to excessive collagen accumulation, but the remodeling of type VII collagen, a key component of the skin's basement membrane, is not well understood. This study investigates type VII collagen turnover in SSc by measuring serum levels of its formation (PRO-C7) and degradation (C7M) biomarkers and characterizing their association with other ECM biomarkers and clinical manifestations.

Methods

An automated immunoassay, PRO-C7, was developed to quantify type VII collagen formation. Additionally, C7M, along with type III, IV, and VI collagen turnover biomarkers, were anal

SUBMITTER: He Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11921712 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature