Low-Molecular Collagen Peptides Have Different Effects on Peritoneal Macrophages and Neutrophils

Two types of phagocytes - neutrophils and macrophages, are very important participants in inflammation. However, the roles played by these cells in the regulation of an inflammation are radically different. Neutrophils initiate and ensure the alteration phase. Macrophages, to the contrary, regulate the transition of an inflammation from alternative processes to reparative. During the early stages of an inflammation, under the effect of proteases and free radicals, destruction of collagen proteins occurs and a large number of low-molecular peptides are formed, the concentration of which changes as the inflammatory reaction develops. The object of this work was to study the effect of the total fraction of low-molecular type I collagen peptides on the key functions of neutrophils and macrophages. Under the action of the wide range of concentrations of the collagen peptides (1-1000 &mgr;g/ml), activation of the neutrophil migration into the three-dimensional collagen matrix, amplification of PMA-induced production of free radicals and reduction of apoptosis of those cells were observed. The action of collagen peptides on the functions of macrophages had the opposite effect, i.e. they caused inhibition of the macrophage migration and reduction of PMA-induced production of free radicals. Furthermore, at a concentration of 100 &mgr;g/ml the collagen peptides reliably reduced the apoptosis of macrophages. Thus, collagen peptides are potent regulators of an inflammation, promoting the successive development of its phases through regulation of the functional state of phagocytes.