Question

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is also known as Brittle Bone Disease. The condition results from a lack of collagen. What role does collagen play in the homeostatic condition of normal bone tissue? What other systems in the body might be impacted by this lack of collagen

Answer 1

Bone is connective tissue that continuously undergoes remodeling through the precise and localized coupling of resorption (removal of aged material) with replacement by newly formed bone. This process is known as bone homeostasis.

Collagen and its polypeptides stimulate osteogenesis ( formation of bone cells, osteoblasts) and surpress osteoclastogenesis (the development of osteoclasts or bone eating cells). Increase in the concentration of collagen in the body reduces the number of osteoclast cells where as, the increase in concentration of collagen up-regulates the osteoblast lineage cell differentiation from mesesnchymal stem cells in the bone marrow. This is how collagen regulates the homeostatis of the bone.

Skin is also impacted by the lack of collagen in the body. Collagen loss results in the skin losing its elasticity, reduction in epidermal thickness and becoming prone to damage, increasing wrinkles and sagging.