Gingival matrix collagen in chronic periodontitis.

The isolation and characterization of cyanogen bromide peptides derived from the human gingival collagen of patients with chronic periodontitis revealed the presence of both Type I and Type III collagens in this tissue. The amount of TYPE III collagen, however, was found to be lower than that in normal gingival tissue. In addition, a non-collagenous protein fraction, accounting for approximately 20% of the insoluble matrix, was relatively rich in acidic, hydrophobic, and hydroxy-containing amino acids. Amino acid analysis, likewise, revealed qualitative and quantitative differences between the normal and diseased tissues.