# Characterization of Type I and IV Collagens by Raman Microspectroscopy: Identification of Spectral Markers of the Dermo-Epidermal Junction

Authors: T. T. Nguyen; C. Gobinet; J. Feru; S. Brassart -Pasco; M. Manfait; O. Piot
Journal: Spectroscopy: An International Journal
 (2012)

**Keywords:** Skin; Raman microspectroscopy; type I collagen; type IV collagen; epidermis/dermis interface


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## Abstract

Type I and IV collagens are important constituents of the skin. Type I collagen is found in all dermal layers in high proportion, while type IV collagen is localized in the basement membrane of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ). These proteins are strongly altered during aging or cancer progression. Although they possess amino acid compositions which, are close, they present also important structural differences inducing specific physicochemical properties. Raman spectroscopy is based on a nondestructive interaction of the light with the matter. This technique permits to probe the intrinsic molecular composition of the samples without staining or particular preparation. The aim of our research is to study the correlation between the molecular conformations of type I and IV collagens and their Raman features. We showed that signals specific of each protein can be revealed and that they translate structural differences between the two collagens. From this collagens spectral characterization, the analysis of skin sections also permitted to identify spectral markers of dermis, epidermis, and epidermis/dermis interface. These preliminary results represent basic data for further studies, particularly to probe skin molecular alterations induced by chronologic aging.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Collagens I and IV are keyconstituents of the skin and are involved in various  physiopathological alterations associated with cancer or aging. Type I collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in mammals and is found in all dermal layers of skin in high proportion (85–90%). It contributes to the great tensile strength and allows withstanding deformation of the dermis. In chronologic aging, type I collagen of dermis becomes sparser and less soluble [1]. In basal cell carcinoma, type I collagen is found degraded at the level of the peritumoral dermis [2]. Type IV collagen is localized in the basement membrane of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ); this constituent is crucial to maintain the integrity, the stability, and the functionality of this very thin membrane. Antiangiogenic and antitumor activities of type IV collagen were demonstrated in vitro; these properties were attributed to the NC1 domain of the protein [3–8]. In skin aging, the thickness of the basement membrane increases but the type IV collagen content declines [9].All of the collagen types consist of a set of three polypeptide chains called tropocollagen,  about 300 nm and 360 nm in length for type I and IV collagens, respectively [10]. Each polypeptide chain is characterized by a Gly-X-Y sequence where X corresponds frequently to proline and Y to hydroxyproline [11]. For each Gly-X-Y tripeptide unit, there is only one direct intrachain hydrogen bond between the N–H group of glycine and the C=O group of  X residue. In addition, stabilizing interactions originate from the network of hydrogen bondings between water and hydroxyproline residues [12]. These different types of interactions ensure tropocollagen to present a triple-helical conformation. For type I collagen of the dermis, tropocollagens are associated with each other by mainly three different types of cross-links (lysinonorleucine, glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysinonorleucine, and histidinohydroxymerosine links), forming a very resistant fiber [10]. So, “fibrillar” is a current adjective for type I collagen. Type IV collagen structure is different from the collagen I. It does not form fibers but a plane network, stabilized by an arrangement of N-terminal domains of four tropocollagens. These domains are associated in tetramers, through disulfide bonds and lysinonorleucine and glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysinonorleucine cross-links to constitute the 7S domain [10]. Another feature of collagen IV is the presence of several interruptions within the Gly-X-Y sequence [13].Presently, immunohistochemistry and western blot techniques are the main techniques to probe collagen IV content in the basement membrane and to investigate molecular alterations such as those associated with aging [10, 14]. The weak point of these techniques is their destructive nature and the necessity to use extrinsic labeling. In contrast, Raman spectroscopy is a nondestructive approach based on the interaction of the light with the matter. This vibrational technique is an interesting label-free tool to probe the intrinsic molecular composition of a sample and also to access some structural information by preserving the sample integrity. To our knowledge, no studies referring to the analysis of human collagen IV by Raman spectroscopy has been published up to now. For type I collagen, researches showed the advantage of Raman microspectroscopy to access in situ conformational information on skin sections [2, 15].In our study, Raman spectroscopy was used to study the correlation between the molecular conformations of the type I and IV collagens and their Raman features. From skin sections, we also examined the Raman signal at the level of DEJ, compared to dermis and epidermis signatures.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Raman Instrumentation

Raman data were collected with a LabRAM microspectrometer (Horiba Jobin Yvon, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France), equipped with a CCD detector, and using a 660 nm laser diode as excitation source. A 100x objective (NA=0.8, Leica) permits to focus the incident laser beam and to collect the Raman scattering. The spectral resolution is 4 cm−1 using a 950 grooves/mm holographic grating.


### 2.2. Reference Collagens

Pure type IV collagen was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Type I collagen was prepared in our laboratory from Sprague Dawley rat (Depre, St. Doulchard, France) tail tendons by 0.5 M acetic acid extraction [16], dialyzed against distilled water and lyophilized.


### 2.3. Raman Analysis of Reference Collagens and of Tissue Sections

Type I and IV collagens were deposited on a CaF2 window (Crystran Ltd., Dorset, UK). Spectra of collagens were acquired using the point mode. The acquisition time was set to 30 s/spectrum and the spectral range to 500–1800 cm−1. For skin analysis, one sample of skin collected at the level of the breast was obtained during cancer breast surgery, from a 41-year-old patient. The skin sample, characterized as normal by standard histology, was frozen, and thin sections (5 μm) were deposited on CaF2 windows. Three tissue sections were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy in imaging mode. A total of 6 areas of about 50 × 50 μm2 around the DEJ were scanned point by point using a step size of 0.5 μm.


## 2.1. Raman Instrumentation

Raman data were collected with a LabRAM microspectrometer (Horiba Jobin Yvon, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France), equipped with a CCD detector, and using a 660 nm laser diode as excitation source. A 100x objective (NA=0.8, Leica) permits to focus the incident laser beam and to collect the Raman scattering. The spectral resolution is 4 cm−1 using a 950 grooves/mm holographic grating.


## 2.2. Reference Collagens

Pure type IV collagen was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. Type I collagen was prepared in our laboratory from Sprague Dawley rat (Depre, St. Doulchard, France) tail tendons by 0.5 M acetic acid extraction [16], dialyzed against distilled water and lyophilized.


## 2.3. Raman Analysis of Reference Collagens and of Tissue Sections

Type I and IV collagens were deposited on a CaF2 window (Crystran Ltd., Dorset, UK). Spectra of collagens were acquired using the point mode. The acquisition time was set to 30 s/spectrum and the spectral range to 500–1800 cm−1. For skin analysis, one sample of skin collected at the level of the breast was obtained during cancer breast surgery, from a 41-year-old patient. The skin sample, characterized as normal by standard histology, was frozen, and thin sections (5 μm) were deposited on CaF2 windows. Three tissue sections were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy in imaging mode. A total of 6 areas of about 50 × 50 μm2 around the DEJ were scanned point by point using a step size of 0.5 μm.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Raman Analysis of Type I and IV Collagens

Figure1 displays typical Raman spectra of type I and IV collagens after baseline correction and normalization on the amide I band. The amide I band is centered at 1668 cm−1 and 1673 cm−1 in the type I and type IV collagens, respectively. They arise from C=O stretching of the peptidic bond in the Gly-X-Y tripeptide sequence. The frequency shift of the amide I band suggests a different proportion of amino acid residues in X and Y positions between the two collagens. The amide III region presents also significant differences between the two collagens. The difference of the intensity ratio I1271/I1246 reflects a difference of proline residues proportion. Indeed, the vibrations at 1246 cm−1 and 1271 cm−1 are assigned to proline-rich and proline-poor regions, respectively [17]. This feature is associated with different spectral profiles in the 820–985 cm−1 range. The peak at 875 cm−1 arises from the hydroxyproline ring [12]. The vibrations at 856 and 920 cm−1 are assigned to the proline ring; the 938 cm−1 band corresponds to the C–C stretching vibration (vc–c) of the backbone formed by Gly-X-Y sequences [12]. Considering the normalization of the spectra on amide I band, the content of proline and hydroxyproline residues in collagen IV appears higher than in collagen I. Two bands at 1004 and 1033 cm−1 assigned to phenylalanine are much more intense in collagen IV; this observation could translate a higher content of phenylalanine in collagen IV or conformational differences at the level of these residues between the two proteins. The vibration at 815 cm−1, visible in both collagens and assigned to the C–O–C stretching [18], can be associated with the glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysinonorleucine cross-link between the tropocollagens [10]. It is more intense in collagen I; this indicates a higher content of cross-links in collagen I than in collagen IV. This spectral feature is correlated with the fibrillar structure of collagen I. Information concerning disulphide bridge can also be extracted from the 500–550 cm−1 spectral range. The S–S vibrations of type IV collagen appear at 510 cm−1 and 540 cm−1. These signals are relative to the disulfide bridges of the 7S domains; they indicate that these bridges are in the very stablegauche-gauche-gaucheconformation (510 cm−1) and the less stabletrans-gauche-trans conformation (540 cm−1) [19]. These peaks are also associated with the C–S stretching vibration at 722 cm−1. This conformational information specific of the 7S domain could be used as in situ markers of the stability of the collagen IV macromolecular network. In type I collagen, the S–S vibrations at 510 and  540 cm−2 do not appear clearly.Figure 1
Raman spectra of type I and IV collagens. For comparison, spectra were baseline corrected and normalized on the amide I band.


### 3.2. Raman Analysis of Epidermis, Dermis, and Epidermis/Dermis Interface

Figure2 shows the average and standard deviation spectra (n=24) of epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface. Taking into account the signal variability, significant spectral differences between the investigated skin structures are visible at the level of amide I, amide III, and proline bands. The amide I band is centered on the 1668 cm−1 wavenumber in dermis; this value is assigned to collagen I fiber [2]. In the epidermis, the peak at 1654 cm−1 is representative of the α-helix structure of keratin [20, 21]. In the epidermis/dermis interface, the amide I band is centered on 1658 cm−1, indicating a predominant α-helical structure. The structural differences between epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface can also be revealed in the amide III region. The vibrations appearing at 1246 cm−1 and 1271 cm−1 are associated with proline-rich (non polar) and proline-poor (polar) regions of the collagens [17]. In the epidermis spectra, the peak at 1271 cm−1 is associated with the α-helical structure of keratin [15]. In the 800–980 cm−1 spectral range, the peaks assigned to hydroxyproline (876 cm−1) and proline (920 cm−1) residues present a higher intensity in the spectra of dermis and epidermis/dermis interface than in those of epidermis. The signal at 815 cm−1, assigned to C–O–C stretching vibration of collagens cross-link, is also visible in the dermis and the epidermis/dermis interface but not at the level of the epidermis. The peaks at 830 and 853 cm−1 are assigned to the Fermi doublet of the tyrosyl residues in protein. In the epidermis, the intensity of the peak at 830 cm−1 is higher than in the epidermis/dermis interface. In the dermis this peak is not discernible. In addition, the intensity ratio of the Fermi doublet, informative of the protein conformation at the level of tyrosine residues [22], varies between the skin structures. According to the value of this ratio, we can determine the exposed or buried conformation of tyrosine residues within the protein, inducing either intra- or intermolecular bonding, respectively. In the disulphide bridge spectral range (500–550 cm−1), no spectral difference between epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface appears clearly. The S–S stretching vibrations specific of collagens are difficult to be discerned because other constituents such as keratin (in epidermis), elastin or fibronectin (in dermis), and laminin (in DEJ) can give superimposed signals.Figure 2
Average spectra and standard deviation of epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface. For comparison, spectra were baseline corrected and normalized on the amide I band.


## 3.1. Raman Analysis of Type I and IV Collagens

Figure1 displays typical Raman spectra of type I and IV collagens after baseline correction and normalization on the amide I band. The amide I band is centered at 1668 cm−1 and 1673 cm−1 in the type I and type IV collagens, respectively. They arise from C=O stretching of the peptidic bond in the Gly-X-Y tripeptide sequence. The frequency shift of the amide I band suggests a different proportion of amino acid residues in X and Y positions between the two collagens. The amide III region presents also significant differences between the two collagens. The difference of the intensity ratio I1271/I1246 reflects a difference of proline residues proportion. Indeed, the vibrations at 1246 cm−1 and 1271 cm−1 are assigned to proline-rich and proline-poor regions, respectively [17]. This feature is associated with different spectral profiles in the 820–985 cm−1 range. The peak at 875 cm−1 arises from the hydroxyproline ring [12]. The vibrations at 856 and 920 cm−1 are assigned to the proline ring; the 938 cm−1 band corresponds to the C–C stretching vibration (vc–c) of the backbone formed by Gly-X-Y sequences [12]. Considering the normalization of the spectra on amide I band, the content of proline and hydroxyproline residues in collagen IV appears higher than in collagen I. Two bands at 1004 and 1033 cm−1 assigned to phenylalanine are much more intense in collagen IV; this observation could translate a higher content of phenylalanine in collagen IV or conformational differences at the level of these residues between the two proteins. The vibration at 815 cm−1, visible in both collagens and assigned to the C–O–C stretching [18], can be associated with the glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxylysinonorleucine cross-link between the tropocollagens [10]. It is more intense in collagen I; this indicates a higher content of cross-links in collagen I than in collagen IV. This spectral feature is correlated with the fibrillar structure of collagen I. Information concerning disulphide bridge can also be extracted from the 500–550 cm−1 spectral range. The S–S vibrations of type IV collagen appear at 510 cm−1 and 540 cm−1. These signals are relative to the disulfide bridges of the 7S domains; they indicate that these bridges are in the very stablegauche-gauche-gaucheconformation (510 cm−1) and the less stabletrans-gauche-trans conformation (540 cm−1) [19]. These peaks are also associated with the C–S stretching vibration at 722 cm−1. This conformational information specific of the 7S domain could be used as in situ markers of the stability of the collagen IV macromolecular network. In type I collagen, the S–S vibrations at 510 and  540 cm−2 do not appear clearly.Figure 1
Raman spectra of type I and IV collagens. For comparison, spectra were baseline corrected and normalized on the amide I band.


## 3.2. Raman Analysis of Epidermis, Dermis, and Epidermis/Dermis Interface

Figure2 shows the average and standard deviation spectra (n=24) of epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface. Taking into account the signal variability, significant spectral differences between the investigated skin structures are visible at the level of amide I, amide III, and proline bands. The amide I band is centered on the 1668 cm−1 wavenumber in dermis; this value is assigned to collagen I fiber [2]. In the epidermis, the peak at 1654 cm−1 is representative of the α-helix structure of keratin [20, 21]. In the epidermis/dermis interface, the amide I band is centered on 1658 cm−1, indicating a predominant α-helical structure. The structural differences between epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface can also be revealed in the amide III region. The vibrations appearing at 1246 cm−1 and 1271 cm−1 are associated with proline-rich (non polar) and proline-poor (polar) regions of the collagens [17]. In the epidermis spectra, the peak at 1271 cm−1 is associated with the α-helical structure of keratin [15]. In the 800–980 cm−1 spectral range, the peaks assigned to hydroxyproline (876 cm−1) and proline (920 cm−1) residues present a higher intensity in the spectra of dermis and epidermis/dermis interface than in those of epidermis. The signal at 815 cm−1, assigned to C–O–C stretching vibration of collagens cross-link, is also visible in the dermis and the epidermis/dermis interface but not at the level of the epidermis. The peaks at 830 and 853 cm−1 are assigned to the Fermi doublet of the tyrosyl residues in protein. In the epidermis, the intensity of the peak at 830 cm−1 is higher than in the epidermis/dermis interface. In the dermis this peak is not discernible. In addition, the intensity ratio of the Fermi doublet, informative of the protein conformation at the level of tyrosine residues [22], varies between the skin structures. According to the value of this ratio, we can determine the exposed or buried conformation of tyrosine residues within the protein, inducing either intra- or intermolecular bonding, respectively. In the disulphide bridge spectral range (500–550 cm−1), no spectral difference between epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface appears clearly. The S–S stretching vibrations specific of collagens are difficult to be discerned because other constituents such as keratin (in epidermis), elastin or fibronectin (in dermis), and laminin (in DEJ) can give superimposed signals.Figure 2
Average spectra and standard deviation of epidermis, dermis, and epidermis/dermis interface. For comparison, spectra were baseline corrected and normalized on the amide I band.


## 4. Discussion and Conclusion

Our findings show that Raman spectroscopy permits to identify structural differences between the type I and IV collagens. Spectral differences were also clearly detected between the dermis, epidermis and epidermis/dermis interface. Further works will be devoted to in situ analysis on skin section samples. The spectral features specific of type I or IV collagens represent basic data for further studies, particularly to probe skin molecular alterations induced by chronologic aging. In addition, it has to be indicated that spectra collected on the epidermis/dermis interface comprise not only the DEJ signal but also both signals from epidermis and dermis. Indeed, the basement membrane (≈100 nm) of the DEJ is much finer than the nominal spot size of analysis in conventional Raman microspectroscopy. New instrumental developments, based on near-field spectroscopy, are presently carried out to focus the analysis on dermo-epidermal junction.



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*Source: 686183-2012-07-11.xml*