General Medical Information

Collagen Lysis

David J. Terris

The production of collagen, as with many other physiologic functions, exists as a homeostatic and dynamic process. Throughout the body, collagen is constantly being produced and constantly being degraded. When increased collagen deposition is required, as in a healing wound, the balance tips in favor of production. This is represented by the fibroplasia phase. In the remodeling phase, the balance tips in favor of collagen lysis, and the scar softens and matures. Collagen is remarkably resistant to degradation and remains insoluble in the face of a wide range of proteases. In fact, a specific class of enzymes has become apparent, whose primary role is to degrade collagen. The activity of these collagenases is upregulated during periods of wound remodeling, as is intracellular degradation of newly synthesized collagen. Therefore, there are at least two mechanisms by which collagen homeostasis can be modulated.

This complex balance of collagen production and degradation is responsible for both the dramatic early and subtle late changes in wounds and scars. This process unfortunately remains incompletely understood.