ABSTRACT
As a consequence of inflammatory tissue degradation collagen proteolysis products may be accumulated in the altered tissue. In this connection, we elaborated a hydrolysis scheme to obtain low molecular weight collagen peptides analogous to those produced in vtiro. To elucidate a possible role of collagen peptides during inflammation their action on lymphocyte migration, proliferation and apoptosis was studied at a wide range of concentrations 1-1000 &mgr;g/ml. The observed effects of peptides were different in three concentration ranges - low (1-50 &mgr;g/ml), middle (50-250 &mgr;g/ml) and high (250-1000 &mgr;g/ml). At high concentrations collagen peptides inhibited lymphocyte migration into 3D collagen matrix, and proliferation, including both spontaneous and stimulated. The middle peptide range induced lymphocyte apoptosis and modulated proliferation. Similar to middle ones, low concentration of collagen peptides modulated lymphocyte proliferation and their effect was the most pronounced. The three concentration ranges may presumably fit different stages of inflammation, since collagen degradation is associated with intensity of tissue alteration. Hence, collagen peptides may control lymphocyte functioning at different inflammation stages. Being naturally produced due to inflammatory tissue degradation, collagen peptides may be considered as complex inflammatory regulator like other traditionally discussed mediators (cytokines, chemokines, lipid mediators, etc.).
