Abstract: | One of the genetically distinct collagens (type III) normally found in skin, aorta, and intestine is missing from the tissues of patients with the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV. While skin fibroblasts from other individuals synthesize both types I and III collagen. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome IV cells synthesize only type I. These results suggest that the fragile skin, blood vessels, and intestines of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome IV patients result from an absence of type III collagen. |