mRNA assessment for procollagen production in women with genuine stress urinary incontinence

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine changes in the levels of mRNA for procollagen type I and III in women with or without genuine stress incontinence (GSI). The study was performed in the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University of Athens. Sixty-eight women participated in the study and they were divided in two groups. We did not find statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients in relation to the amount of mRNA of procollagen type I and III (p>0.05), but the quantity of collagen type I and III was significantly reduced in patients with stress incontinence (p<0.05). The possible cause for the reduction in the amount of collagen in women with GSI could be attributed to either a disturbance in the translation of mRNA to protein (collagen) or increased catabolism of collagen by its collagenase.

Pelvic floor disorders: linking genetic risk factors to biochemical changes

“…Several of these investigators [17,19] also showed a similar finding within skin cells, suggesting that the observation within the pelvic tissues was not only a consequence of SUI, but probably represented an underlying systemic process of low collagen state. Although some have suggested that an alteration in the collagen type I to type III ratio may alter the pelvic connective tissues, both ex vivo [17] and in vivo [20] data from populations with SUI fail to support this view. Weakened pelvic floor support may result from lower collagen content, but also from alterations within the distribution of collagen fibres.…”

Connective tissue alterations in women with pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence

“…Measurements of the N‐terminal propeptides of collagen type I (PINP) and III (PIIINP) in blood are also used as markers of collagen formation. Although a reduction in the amount of collagen in stress incontinence has been reported previously by several researchers (3), (11), (12), no significant changes in the levels of mRNA for procollagen types I and III have been observed (8). Collagen cross‐links have also been examined in incontinent subjects, and have been found either diminished (13), or unaltered with respect to the controls (3).…”

“…On the other hand, collagenolytic activity has been found unaltered despite the reduction of total collagen in the pubocervical fascia (3). Although tissue collagen content was low in some cases, no alteration in the amount of mRNA for collagen types I and III was observed between the continent and incontinent group (8). It was suggested that the difference in the quantity of protein could be a consequence of altered collagen metabolism.…”

“…This discrepancy between the histological appearance of collagen fibres and the biochemical data related to the low hydroxyproline content is the main finding of our study. Similarly, tissue collagen content has been found decreased in cases with urinary incontinence, but no alteration in its expression has been observed (8). It is known that hydroxyproline takes place in the primary structure of collagen following post‐translational hydroxylation reaction of prolyl residues, and is responsible for the intermolecular hydrogen bonding that stabilises the triple helix structure of this protein.…”

“…Among these, abnormalities in the connective tissue of the pelvic floor are of prominent importance, and several researches indicate that women with either urodynamic stress incontinence (USI) or prolapse exhibit connective tissue alterations (1–3). However, the previous findings relating to the structure of the pelvic connective tissue are controversial (4–10). In these studies, the most widely used method is collagen quantitation by measuring hydroxyproline concentration in the tissue.…”