I have been reading past posts and I haven't come across the answers to a couple of things that I have been wondering about. If there are answers somewhere else that I missed, I'm sorry.
1-Does anyone know why, in response to inflammation, the colon deposits (creates, generates) collagen where it does? In every other instance of inflammation everywhere in the body, it seems to me that inflammation is damaging and degrading to tissues, but with CC, it's creating more tissue (collagen) where the inflammation is. That seems like a really strange response to me. I don't know if I'm phrasing this so that ya'll get what I am trying to say, but what a weird response to inflammation.
2-If glucosamine supports collagen in your joints, is it helping the colon to create collagen-worsening the CC?
Thanks
Sherry
New Orleans, LA
2 questions about CC
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Sherry,
To the best of my knowledge, no medical research has ever proposed even a theory about why CC is associated with collagen band thickening, let alone a verified explanation. So what I am about to suggest is strictly my best guess, based on my understanding of the disease:
Collagen is connective tissue, and it's what holds individual cells together to form tissue. Without connective tissue (collagen), our bodies would presumably disintegrate into a pile of individual cells. That implies that CC is a connective tissue disease. While connective tissue is essential for the composition and functioning of organisms that are comprised of living tissue, excessive amounts can be detrimental. For example, in the case of CC, thickened collagen bands tend to cause thickening and stiffening of the intestines, which can interfere with the flexibility needed for peristalsis (an essential part of digestive system motility.
Presumably, it can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, which have to be able to pass through the tight junctions between the elongated cells (known as enterocytes) that comprise the interior surface layer of the epithelia (mucosa) in the intestines. By stiffening the intestinal walls, this may interfere with the responsiveness needed by the tight junctions in order to adjust to changing conditions within the lumen during various digestive processes. This loss of responsiveness could result not only in compromised absorption of nutrients, but it could also allow the passage of partially-digested peptides through the tight junctions, thus adding to an existing leaky gut issue (MC almost always involves a leaky gut, medically known as increased intestinal permeability).
The collagen in our joints is in the form of thick and relatively dense cartilage, and it's there to provide a smooth, lubricated (by sinovial fluid), and flexible load-bearing surface that allows movement/flexibility/etc. in the joints of our bones. That's a completely different issue from collagen bands in the gut. In the intestines, collagen is there to provide strength to muscle tissue, and load-bearing is not an issue.
Therefore, there is no benefit to be derived from thickened collagen bands in the intestines, and anything above minimal thickening can lead to compromised functionality.
At least that's the way I see it.
You're very welcome,
Tex
To the best of my knowledge, no medical research has ever proposed even a theory about why CC is associated with collagen band thickening, let alone a verified explanation. So what I am about to suggest is strictly my best guess, based on my understanding of the disease:
Collagen is connective tissue, and it's what holds individual cells together to form tissue. Without connective tissue (collagen), our bodies would presumably disintegrate into a pile of individual cells. That implies that CC is a connective tissue disease. While connective tissue is essential for the composition and functioning of organisms that are comprised of living tissue, excessive amounts can be detrimental. For example, in the case of CC, thickened collagen bands tend to cause thickening and stiffening of the intestines, which can interfere with the flexibility needed for peristalsis (an essential part of digestive system motility.
Presumably, it can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients, which have to be able to pass through the tight junctions between the elongated cells (known as enterocytes) that comprise the interior surface layer of the epithelia (mucosa) in the intestines. By stiffening the intestinal walls, this may interfere with the responsiveness needed by the tight junctions in order to adjust to changing conditions within the lumen during various digestive processes. This loss of responsiveness could result not only in compromised absorption of nutrients, but it could also allow the passage of partially-digested peptides through the tight junctions, thus adding to an existing leaky gut issue (MC almost always involves a leaky gut, medically known as increased intestinal permeability).
The collagen in our joints is in the form of thick and relatively dense cartilage, and it's there to provide a smooth, lubricated (by sinovial fluid), and flexible load-bearing surface that allows movement/flexibility/etc. in the joints of our bones. That's a completely different issue from collagen bands in the gut. In the intestines, collagen is there to provide strength to muscle tissue, and load-bearing is not an issue.
Therefore, there is no benefit to be derived from thickened collagen bands in the intestines, and anything above minimal thickening can lead to compromised functionality.
At least that's the way I see it.
You're very welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Sherry,
Please be aware that increased collagen band thickness is not the only problem with CC. It's used as a unique diagnostic marker to distinguish between CC and LC, but the fact of the matter is that in many/most CC cases, lymphocytic infiltration is just as significant as with LC, and the diagnosis would be LC, were it not for the presence of the additional symptom of increased collagen band thickness. (With LC, collagen bands are not significantly thickened, at least not sufficiently to qualify for a diagnosis of CC).
And even in CC cases where the lymphocyte count is not sufficient to qualify for a diagnosis of LC, lymphocytic infiltration appears to be the primary cause of the inflammation that causes the digestive symptoms associated with MC. With CC, the increased lymphocyte presence (plus an increase in eosinophils) is often more pronounced in the lamina propria (the sub-epithelial layer where the collagen bands are located), rather than at the mucosal surface (as is typical of LC). The other IBDs (Crohn's and UC) are also typically marked by an increase in eosinophils in the sub-epithelial layers. Here's an old reference that describes these features of CC:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3610134
Tex
Please be aware that increased collagen band thickness is not the only problem with CC. It's used as a unique diagnostic marker to distinguish between CC and LC, but the fact of the matter is that in many/most CC cases, lymphocytic infiltration is just as significant as with LC, and the diagnosis would be LC, were it not for the presence of the additional symptom of increased collagen band thickness. (With LC, collagen bands are not significantly thickened, at least not sufficiently to qualify for a diagnosis of CC).
And even in CC cases where the lymphocyte count is not sufficient to qualify for a diagnosis of LC, lymphocytic infiltration appears to be the primary cause of the inflammation that causes the digestive symptoms associated with MC. With CC, the increased lymphocyte presence (plus an increase in eosinophils) is often more pronounced in the lamina propria (the sub-epithelial layer where the collagen bands are located), rather than at the mucosal surface (as is typical of LC). The other IBDs (Crohn's and UC) are also typically marked by an increase in eosinophils in the sub-epithelial layers. Here's an old reference that describes these features of CC:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3610134
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Nancy,
We have found that the use of Imodium is generally safe and effective. Most members here who use it, do so on an "as needed" (IOW occasional) basis. For example, they use it when they absolutely need to be out and about, to go shopping, or to travel, or to attend a meeting, or whatever, even though their MC may be flaring. The risk of using it regularly (as in every day over long periods of time) is that our digestive system may eventually build up a tolerance to it, so that it may become less effective.
That said, that risk is probably relatively low. And as far as I am aware, Imodium (loperamide) does not cause any long-term negative effects or damage to the GI system.
If we have adopted the diet changes needed in order to prevent the inflammation from being regenerated, and we're very careful to prevent accidental diet contamination, then the collagen bands in our intestines (those of us who have CC) will slowly return to normal thickness as our clinical symptoms fade away.
Tex
We have found that the use of Imodium is generally safe and effective. Most members here who use it, do so on an "as needed" (IOW occasional) basis. For example, they use it when they absolutely need to be out and about, to go shopping, or to travel, or to attend a meeting, or whatever, even though their MC may be flaring. The risk of using it regularly (as in every day over long periods of time) is that our digestive system may eventually build up a tolerance to it, so that it may become less effective.
That said, that risk is probably relatively low. And as far as I am aware, Imodium (loperamide) does not cause any long-term negative effects or damage to the GI system.
If we have adopted the diet changes needed in order to prevent the inflammation from being regenerated, and we're very careful to prevent accidental diet contamination, then the collagen bands in our intestines (those of us who have CC) will slowly return to normal thickness as our clinical symptoms fade away.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.