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Targeting Collagen-Related Therapy

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2024 | Viewed by 694

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Research Group in Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia 'San Vicente Mártir', 46001 Valencia, Spain
Interests: collagen; GPBP; EMT; PNPT1; mitochondria

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Collagens are the most abundant components of the extracellular matrix. There are 29 types of collagens and 44 collagen genes. Collagens are secreted and interact with both epithelial and mesenchymal cells/tissues.

Their use in pharmacology has started before understanding the profound complexity of their biochemical functions. Despite this limited knowledge, the global market of collagen can be measured in USD billions, since collagens are a versatile biomaterial with various pharmacological applications. Collagens are a key component of therapeutic interventions. They play a central role in tissue repair or engineering. Drugs are often employed in combination with collagen scaffolds to enhance tissue regeneration. The use of collagen-based dressings and wound care products are widely used in the management of wounds. A controversial branch of this field is the relevance of collagens as a common ingredient in cosmeceutical products, both locally and orally administered.

However, collagens are already playing other roles in pharmacology, particularly in the development of drug delivery systems as drugs and even as potential targets. Synthetic peptides designed to mimic specific collagen sequences or structural motifs have shown potential in applications as drug delivery systems. Additionally, some peptides of collagen display anti-tumorigenic or anti-angiogenic properties, while others induce tumor progression.

Thus, this Special Issue will discuss recent advances in the use of collagens in therapy and their different applications, including as scaffolds for tissue repair, drug delivery systems, drugs and therapeutic targets.

Dr. Fernando Revert
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • collagen
  • extracellular matrix
  • molecular target
  • tissue engineering
  • drug deliver

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

29 pages, 1440 KiB  
Review
The Versatility of Collagen in Pharmacology: Targeting Collagen, Targeting with Collagen
by Francisco Revert-Ros, Ignacio Ventura, Jesús A. Prieto-Ruiz, José Miguel Hernández-Andreu and Fernando Revert
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(12), 6523; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25126523 - 13 Jun 2024
Viewed by 329
Abstract
Collagen, a versatile family of proteins with 28 members and 44 genes, is pivotal in maintaining tissue integrity and function. It plays a crucial role in physiological processes like wound healing, hemostasis, and pathological conditions such as fibrosis and cancer. Collagen is a [...] Read more.
Collagen, a versatile family of proteins with 28 members and 44 genes, is pivotal in maintaining tissue integrity and function. It plays a crucial role in physiological processes like wound healing, hemostasis, and pathological conditions such as fibrosis and cancer. Collagen is a target in these processes. Direct methods for collagen modulation include enzymatic breakdown and molecular binding approaches. For instance, Clostridium histolyticum collagenase is effective in treating localized fibrosis. Polypeptides like collagen-binding domains offer promising avenues for tumor-specific immunotherapy and drug delivery. Indirect targeting of collagen involves regulating cellular processes essential for its synthesis and maturation, such as translation regulation and microRNA activity. Enzymes involved in collagen modification, such as prolyl-hydroxylases or lysyl-oxidases, are also indirect therapeutic targets. From another perspective, collagen is also a natural source of drugs. Enzymatic degradation of collagen generates bioactive fragments known as matrikines and matricryptins, which exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. Overall, collagen-derived peptides present significant therapeutic potential beyond tissue repair, offering various strategies for treating fibrosis, cancer, and genetic disorders. Continued research into specific collagen targeting and the application of collagen and its derivatives may lead to the development of novel treatments for a range of pathological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeting Collagen-Related Therapy)
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