In Vitro Synthesis of Normal Bone (Type I) Collagen by Bones of Paget's Disease Patients 1

Abstract

Summary

Bone samples were obtained from five Paget's disease patients and one normal individual at surgery. We characterized the collagen content of bone samples chemically, using sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and cyanogen bromide peptide analysis, and also determined the type of collagen produced in vitro by these samples. Both Pagetic and normal bones make normal bone collagen with the α₁ to α₂ chains ratio equal to 2:1. However, Pagetic bones synthesized three to four times more protein and collagen per milligram of tissue as compared to normal bones.

The authors want to thank Drs. P. D. Benya and B. Mills for their helpful suggestions and criticisms; Mr. Kris Stephenson and Ms. Sylvia Padilla for their excellent technical assistance; and Mrs. Dorothy Shrode for typing the manuscript.