Collagen type I (Collagen I)

Collagen type I is a fibrillar protein forming the primary structural scaffold of the extracellular matrix in the dermis, providing tensile strength, elasticity, and resistance to stretching. It is synthesized as procollagen in fibroblasts, undergoes post-translational modification (hydroxylation, glycosylation), is secreted, and then assembled extracellularly into mature collagen fibrils. Type I collagen’s abundance and organized fibril formation are essential for youthful skin and wound healing, whereas its degradation or misregulation is associated with aging, scarring, and fibrotic diseases. Drugs can target collagen synthesis (e.g., retinoids enhance, corticosteroids suppress) or degradation (e.g., collagenases for contractures). Biomarkers of collagen turnover are used to monitor diseases like fibrosis and the efficacy of anti-aging/repair interventions.

Other names

Collagendermal collagenfibrillar collagen

Enzymatic degradation (collagenases), stimulation of collagen synthesis (retinoids, vitamin C)