Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
12:23

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering

Published on: October 12, 2012

Cellular sensitivity to native type IV collagen in primary biliary cirrhosis

T Suou1, H Ago, H Sawada

  • 1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.

Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology
|March 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen is present in chronic liver diseases, particularly primary biliary cirrhosis. This sensitivity correlates with collagen levels and may indicate basement membrane changes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hepatology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Chronic liver diseases involve complex immunological and biochemical alterations.
  • Basement membranes, composed of collagens, play a crucial role in liver structure and function.
  • Understanding immune responses to specific collagen types may offer insights into disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cellular sensitivity to human type I and type IV collagens in patients with chronic liver diseases.
  • To compare this sensitivity across different chronic liver disease subtypes and normal controls.
  • To explore the correlation between cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen and serum 7S domain levels.

Main Methods:

  • Employed an in vitro leucocyte migration inhibition test.
  • Assessed mononuclear cell responses to native human type I and type IV collagens.
  • Included patients with chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • Significant cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen was observed in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (92%), liver cirrhosis (52%), and chronic active hepatitis (33%).
  • Nearly all patients responded to type I collagen, while controls showed minimal response to both.
  • Cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen was significantly higher in primary biliary cirrhosis patients compared to other liver disease groups (p < 0.01).
  • A significant positive correlation was found between cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen and serum 7S domain levels (r = +0.462, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Cellular sensitivity to both type I and type IV collagens is evident in chronic liver diseases.
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis exhibits a particularly high degree of cellular sensitivity to type IV collagen.
  • These findings suggest potential accelerated metabolism of basement membranes in chronic liver conditions.

More Related Videos

Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis08:56

Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis

Published on: February 10, 2015

Murine Precision-Cut Liver Slices as an Ex Vivo Model of Liver Biology12:36

Murine Precision-Cut Liver Slices as an Ex Vivo Model of Liver Biology

Published on: March 14, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Fibril-associated Collagen01:11

Fibril-associated Collagen

Fibril-associated collagens are a type of collagens present in the extracellular matrix with interrupted triple helices or FACIT (Fibril-associated collagens interrupted triple-helices). FACIT help connect and attach the collagen fibrils with each other as well as with other proteins of the extracellular matrix.
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina01:05

Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina

Type IV collagen is a 400 nm long, network-forming collagen that acts as a barrier between the epithelial and endothelial cells. Type IV collagen  forms the backbone of the basement membrane by scaffolding with laminin, entactin, proteoglycans, and fibronectin. Apart from rendering structural support to the basement membrane, it also helps entail signaling potentials necessary for both pathological and physiological functions.
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can exist in...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease01:25

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
Cirrhosis I: Introduction01:23

Cirrhosis I: Introduction

Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology01:21

Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive and irreversible inflammation of the pancreas, most often caused by long-term alcohol abuse, but it can also be related to ductal obstruction, smoking, or genetic factors.Chronic pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas is repeatedly exposed to harmful agents like alcohol, smoking, ductal obstruction, or genetic predisposition. These factors lead to the release of toxic metabolites and inflammatory cytokines, sustaining chronic inflammation in the pancreatic...