News Life

Antibody may explain collagen’s undoing

Potential culprit in rheumatoid arthritis identified

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

A lone antibody can unravel collagen fibers, possibly contributing to the destruction of cartilage in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

TOGETHER, APART Collagen forms ordered bundles (left), but a newly identified antibody strips away a protein called biglycan, which helps hold the collagen bundles together, causing the bundles to fall apart (right).