Viidik A
Mech Ageing Dev. 1979 Feb;9(3-4):267-85. doi: 10.1016/0047-6374(79)90104-0.
Two of the "old" mono-cause theories of aging have temporal changes in the connective tissues, especially those in collagen, as main events. The crosslinking of collagen is stable under physiological conditions shortly after the formation of fibrils and the additional physico-chemical stability attained later on probably does not influence the physiological functions of the tissues significantly. The temporal changes in collagen seen as increased thermal stability, decreased solubility and increased mechanical stiffness are discussed in relation to the underlying structural changes. It is concluded that the increased stability of the collagen (mainly type I) in the locomotive system and skin are not "true" aging phenomena. It is possible that the changes in the connective tissues of the lungs and kidneys contribute to the decrease of function with age. The "normal" increase of stiffness of type I collagen may contibute to the increased compliance and residual volume of the aging lung. Our present knowledge of the structure and function of collagens and ground substances in various basement membranes does not permit an evaluation of the role of connective tissues in the age changes in the alveolo--capillary complex, the glomeruli and the exchange between tissues and capillaries in general.
两种“传统的”衰老单因素理论认为，结缔组织尤其是胶原蛋白的时间性变化是主要事件。在原纤维形成后不久，胶原蛋白的交联在生理条件下是稳定的，而后期获得的额外物理化学稳定性可能不会显著影响组织的生理功能。文中讨论了胶原蛋白在热稳定性增加、溶解度降低和机械硬度增加方面的时间性变化与潜在结构变化的关系。得出的结论是，运动系统和皮肤中胶原蛋白（主要是I型）稳定性的增加并非“真正的”衰老现象。肺部和肾脏结缔组织的变化可能导致功能随年龄下降。I型胶原蛋白硬度的“正常”增加可能导致衰老肺的顺应性和残气量增加。我们目前对各种基底膜中胶原蛋白和基质的结构与功能的了解，还无法评估结缔组织在肺泡-毛细血管复合体、肾小球以及组织与毛细血管之间的交换等方面的年龄变化中所起的作用。
