Lipodermatosclerosis and the significance of proteolytic remodeling in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration (Review).

  • Authors:
    • Y Herouy
    • P Nockowski
    • E Schöpf
    • J Norgauer
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: May 1, 1999     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.3.5.511
  • Pages: 511-516
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Abstract

The preceding stage of venous ulceration represents a scleroderma-like hardening of the skin called lipodermatosclerosis. Clinical stages such as lipodermatosclerosis and venous ulceration, which succeed one another are highly associated to chronic venous insufficiency. Lipodermatosclerosis is characterized by fibrous scar tissue of the reticular dermis built up of collagen bundles and loss of cellular components, whereas venous ulceration is characterized by total loss of epidermis and partially of matrix structures in the upper dermis. There is a growing recognition that an excessive proteolytic activity by proteases, in particular that of matrix metalloproteinases and fibrinolytic factors of the plasminogen activation system may be a key feature in the pathophysiological understanding of venous leg ulcer formation. Lipodermatosclerosis displays an intense ongoing proteolytic process by elevated matrix metalloproteinase activity, as recently shown on different molecular and biological levels. Elevated expression on mRNA and protein level of matrix metalloproteinases and fibrinolytic factors of the plasminogen activation system have been detected in liposclerotic skin lesions. In addition, matrix metalloproteinases were proteolytically activated confirmed by zymography experiments and collagen degradation assays. Therefore it is well conceivable, that proteolytic enzymes of matrix metalloproteinases could initiate an elevated turnover of the extracellular matrix with subsequent breakdown of the matrix scaffold finally resulting in venous ulceration.

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May 1999
Volume 3 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Herouy Y, Nockowski P, Schöpf E and Norgauer J: Lipodermatosclerosis and the significance of proteolytic remodeling in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration (Review).. Int J Mol Med 3: 511-516, 1999
APA
Herouy, Y., Nockowski, P., Schöpf, E., & Norgauer, J. (1999). Lipodermatosclerosis and the significance of proteolytic remodeling in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration (Review).. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 3, 511-516. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.3.5.511
MLA
Herouy, Y., Nockowski, P., Schöpf, E., Norgauer, J."Lipodermatosclerosis and the significance of proteolytic remodeling in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration (Review).". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 3.5 (1999): 511-516.
Chicago
Herouy, Y., Nockowski, P., Schöpf, E., Norgauer, J."Lipodermatosclerosis and the significance of proteolytic remodeling in the pathogenesis of venous ulceration (Review).". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 3, no. 5 (1999): 511-516. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.3.5.511