Collagenolytic activity in human pancreatic tissue with different degrees of fibrosis

The present study was designed to establish a valid method for expressing collagenolytic activity in pancreatic tissue with different degrees of fibrosis. Collagenolytic activity was measured in pancreatic tissue of control and alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and data were expressed as percent digestion/mg tissue or as percent digestion/mg protein obtaining different results. The values were 18.4 +/- 4.7% digestion/mg tissue in the control group, and 8.4 +/- 3.2% digestion/mg tissue in the chronic pancreatitis group (p < 0.001). When collagenolytic activity was expressed as percent digestion/mg protein, measured by the Bradford assay, the values of the control group were 190.2 +/- 69.0% digestion/mg protein, and those of chronic pancreatitis patients were 187.2 +/- 61.7% digestion/mg protein (p = ns). Protein determination in pancreatic tissue of control and CP patients was seen to be influenced by the method assayed. Protein content per mg of fresh tissue, measured by the methods of Lowry, Bradford, and Bradford-SDS, were similar and twofold higher in controls than in CP samples. However, the Kjeldahl assay showed that protein content per mg of dry tissue was the same in both groups. The high degree of fibrosis in the pancreas of CP patients (60.2 +/- 28.0%) with regard to controls (4.7 +/- 1.8%) (p < 0.001) and the low response of collagen proteins to the Lowry and Bradford assays could explain the differences observed in protein content of human samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)