{
  "abstract": "Objectives: Dupuytren’s disease is a fibroproliferative disorder that is characterized by collagen-rich cords that cause progressive flexion contractures. Collagenase from Clostridium histolyticum is an established nonsurgical therapy. Herein, we evaluated whether a recombinant form of collagenase G (ColG), expressed in Escherichia coli, weakens Dupuytren’s cords ex vivo. Methods: Cords from Dupuytren’s disease patients were excised during surgery. Using a 30G needle, 0.5 mL of 4 mg/ml ColG or phosphate buffer Saline (PBS) was injected into the cord center. Samples were incubated in saline at 37 °C and mounted via size-1 Prolene Krackow sutures on an Instron tensile testing system. Force vs. displacement curves were recorded. Results: Six cords from five patients were tested (ColG n = 4; PBS n = 2). Representative force–displacement curves showed a reduced slope and lower peak force prior to rupture in ColG-treated samples compared with vehicle. The mean maximum rupture force was lower with ColG than with PBS (0.047 kN vs 0.069 kN), corresponding to ~32% reduction in the force required to tear the cord in this series. Conclusions: Recombinant ColG weakens the tensile strength of Dupuytren’s cords ex vivo, consistent with potent collagenolytic activity. These proof-of-concept pilot data support further studies to define dose–response, optimize formulation and exposure time, and evaluate safety and clinical performance relative to current collagenase-based treatments.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Orthopedic Department, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel",
    "Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel",
    "Department of Oral Biology, Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Guy Rubin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "David Rothem"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ran Tohar"
    },
    {
      "name": "Maayan Gal"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47gy3x5hj9m06.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359330",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "47gy3x5hj9m06",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359330",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2745|Dupuytren's Contracture and Treatments"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Enzymology/Enzymes/Hydrolases/Collagenases"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Collagens"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Enzymes/Hydrolases/Collagenases"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Recombinant proteins"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biomechanics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Clostridium"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Enterobacteriaceae/Escherichia/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Gut bacteria/Clostridium"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Gut bacteria/Escherichia/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Clostridium"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Surgical and invasive medical procedures"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Surgical and invasive medical procedures/Surgical excision"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Animal studies/Experimental organism systems/Model organisms/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Animal studies/Experimental organism systems/Prokaryotic models/Escherichia coli"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Model organisms/Escherichia coli"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214233451",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0359330&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-24",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47gy3x5hj9m06.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359330",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359330"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:enzymology",
      "subfield": "enzymology-metabolism"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:surgical and invasive medical procedures",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dupuytren’s disease cords are weakened ex vivo by injection of recombinant collagenase G – A proof-of-concept study",
  "title_text": "Dupuytren’s disease cords are weakened ex vivo by injection of recombinant collagenase G – A proof-of-concept study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/47gy3x5hj9m06",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}