PubMed HealthSearch

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Chondrocytes”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Light microscopic localization of labile calcium in hypertrophied chondrocytes of long bone with alizarin red S.

A method which localizes labile 5% ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-amino-ethyl ether)N-N'-tetraacetic acid-removable calcium in spherules within hypertrophied chondrocytes and in pericellular matrix using alizarin red S (ARS) is described. Fresh blocks of epiphyseal cartilage approximately 1 mm thick were immersed into 0.5-2% ARS solution containing 7% mounted on glass slides in 7% sucrose or in glycerol-gelatin. The stained tissue blocks were also dehydrated in acetone, cleared in xylene and mounted in Preservaslide. The ARS precipitated ionic calcium as red Ca-ARS salt which was birefringent in polarizing microscope, stable in water at pH 4-9 and in nonpolar organic solvent but soluble in polar solvents, especially in dimethyl sulfoxide. In contrast, ARS-stained insoluble calcium phosphate was stable even in dimethyl sulfoxide. Calcium in the hypertrophied chondrocytes, therefore, was thought to be present in a readily ionizable state instead of as insoluble calcium phosphate. Since addition of 7% sucrose retained as well as improved ARS localization of cellular calcium, the calcium was believed to be present in an osmotically sensitive, membrane-bound cytoplasmic compartment. The ARS-positive labile calcium in spherules which develop in the hypertrophied chondrocytes as well as in the pericellular matrix at the zone of provisional calcification suggested a preparatory stage in the process of cartilage calcification.

Animals

Pituitary fibroblast growth factor as a stimulator of growth in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes.

Growth promoting activity for rabbit chondrocytes has been described as a contaminant of partially pruified TSH and LH prepared from bovine and ovine pituitaries. We have investigated fibroblast frowth factor (FGF), a small growth promoting peptide isolated from bovine pituitary tissue, in a rabbit chondrocyte system. The results suggest to us that FGF is the factor or one of the factors responsible for chondrocyte growth stimulating activity previously described in the pituitary hormone preparations. DNA synthesis in these cells is stimulated by FGF at final medium concentrations of 10(-9) g/ml. Bovine NIH-LH is not stimulatory below concentrations of 10(-7) g/ml. FGF also stimulates cell growth in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum. Dexamethasone, at concentrations of 10(-5) to 10(-9) g/ml exerts a synergistic effect with FGF on both DNA synthesis and cell growth. Over a concentration range of 10(-6) to 10(-9) g/ml, FGF does not stimulate synthesis of sulfated mucopolysaccharides.

Animals

Synthesis of proteoglycans by suspension and monolayer cultures of adult chondrocytes and de novo cartilage nodules-the effect of hyaluronic acid.

Chondrocytes were isolated from adult laryngeal cartilage by an enzymic procedure that included 6 h digestion with collagenase. The level of 35SO4(2-) incorporation into cetylpyridinium chloride-precipitable material by these cells depended upon the subsequent culturing conditions. Suspension cultures incorporated more 35SO4(2-)/cell than monolayer cultures. Hyaluronic acid in the medium inhibited 35SO4(2-) incorporation only when the cells were in primary suspension cultures. It had no effect on monolayer cultures, or monolayers organized into nodules, or suspension cultures derived from monolayers. Mild pretreatment with EDTA, however, rendered these susceptible to hyaluronic acid inhibition. In contrast EDTA abolished the inhibitory effect of hyaluronic acid on primary suspension cultures. Oligosaccharides, derived from hyaluronidase digestion of hyaluronic acid that were larger than decassaccharide, had some inhibitor effect on 35SO4(2-) incorporation by monolayer cultures. The total 35SO4(2-) incorporation was less in primary suspension cultures of chondrocytes isolated after 12 h than after 6 h digestion of cartilage and the inhibition by hyaluronic acid was also less. These differences persisted during 12 days of culture. It is suggested that the method of isolating chondrocytes and subsequent culture conditions may modify the cell surface and mask or abolish specific binding sites for hyaluronic acid.

Animals

The effect of a slightly acidic somatomedin peptide (ILAs) on the sulphation of proteoglycans from articular and growth plate chondrocytes in culture.

Chondrocyte cultures were prepared from rabbit growth plate (GPC) and articular (ARC) chondrocytes. These two cell types have distinct morphological characteristics. The cells reached maximum numbers by days 10 and 21 for ARC and GPC, respectively. The proteoglycans (PG) contained in the cellular pool were extracted and purified by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The effect of a partially purified somatomedin peptide with insulin-like activity on [35S]sulphate incorporation into PG was evaluated. In both ARC and GPC a significant stimulation of [35S]sulphate uptake into PG subunits was obtained with 1 ng Eq./ml of somatomedin peptide. In order to obtain the same stimulatory effect with porcine insulin, a 1000-fold greater concentration was required. The electrophoretic patterns of the PG subunits on acrylamide-agarose electrophoresis were identical on control incubations and after stimulation with the somatomedin peptide. These data demonstrate in vitro biological activity of this peptide on well differentiated articular and epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes in culture. These cultures appear to provide a sensitive biological assay for somatomedin peptides.

Animals

UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase in cultured chondrocytes.

UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase has been demonstrated in chick chondrocytes in tissue culture. It occurs in the particulate fraction, and its activity is stimulated by exogenous NAD. The enzyme is allosterically activated by UDP-glucuronate and inhibited by UDP-xylose, n Values of 2.8 indicate positive cooperativity of at least three interacting sites on the enzyme. These data suggest that UDP-xylose concentration in chondrocytes is regulated by substrate activation and product inhibition of UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase. Activity levels of the enzyme during growth of the cells peak towards mid-log phase and decline thereafter, closely paralleling levels of chondroitin sulfate glycosyltransferases determined previously (Schwartz, N. B. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 3346-3351). Thus, it appears that during chondrocyte development a common mechanism governs induction of glycosyltransferases and of UDP-glucuronate carboxy-lyase.

Animals

[The fixation of intracellular carbohydrates in the chondrocytes (author's transl)].

The chondrocytes of the epiphysis contain several polysaccharides, not only glycogen, but also proteoglycans (MPS). Therefore the fixation of chondrocytes is difficult. In regard of fixation we must consider, that macromolecules of proteoglycans have a considerable water content (the effective hydrodynamic volume), furthermore the MPS are easily soluble. We examined the preservation of chondrocytes after application of 44 several fixation fluids with the aid of phasecontrast, the electronmicroscope and after staining. The fixation with familiar methods is unsufficient. Consequently we used a double or successive fixation with two different mixtures, once for fixation the proteins (formalin-alcohol-mercuric chloride-acetic acid), another for polysaccharides (LILLIE's alcoholic lead nitrate formalin alternative basic lead acetate). The degree of fixation, the precipitability of the various polysaccharides is quite different and may be characteristic like their staining or solubility feature.

Animals

[In vitro study of isolated chondrocytes concerning the prognosis of transplanted cartilage].

In order to find out reliable criteria to conclude on the prognosis of transplanted cartilage the quality of isolated rabbit chondrocytes was assayed in vitro. Using a semisolid medium a culture system is introduced, which is able to detect colony forming units of chondrocytes. Furthermore their proliferative and differentiating capacity was investigated. Colony formation in vitro follows a strict dose response relationship. An inverse relationship was observed between the age of the donor and the colony incidence in vitro. Cells from neonatal cartilage could be induced to grow as fibroblastic colonies in the presence of conditioned medium from fibroblastic monolayer cultures. No effect, however, could be observed with chondrocyte derived conditioned medium.

Age Factors

The differentiation and calcification of chondrocytes in primary cell cultures.

The cartilage from a non-immobilized fracture undergoes a series of morphological and biochemical changes resembling the in vivo differentiation and calcification in the epiphyseal plate. The studies reported here demonstrate that a homogeneous population of chondrocytes isolated from fracture callus fibrocartilage undergoes the same changes in vitro. Chondrocyte primary cultures were grown for 28 days during which time the morphological, histological and histochemical properties of the cultures were studied. Demonstrated by various histological procedures, chondrocytes synthesized the characteristic cartilage matrix, and progressively calcified with increased culture age. This system can be used to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of calcification.

Animals

Osteolectin increases bone elongation and body length by promoting growth plate chondrocyte proliferation.

Osteolectin is a recently identified osteogenic growth factor that binds to Integrin α11 (encoded by Itga11), promoting Wnt pathway activation and osteogenic differentiation by bone marrow stromal cells. While Osteolectin and Itga11 are not required for the formation of the skeleton during fetal development, they are required for the maintenance of adult bone mass. Genome-wide association studies in humans reported a single-nucleotide variant (rs182722517) 16 kb downstream of Osteolectin associated with reduced height and plasma Osteolectin levels. In this study, we tested whether Osteolectin promotes bone elongation and found that Osteolectin-deficient mice have shorter bones than those of sex-matched littermate controls. Integrin α11 deficiency in limb mesenchymal progenitors or chondrocytes reduced growth plate chondrocyte proliferation and bone elongation. Recombinant Osteolectin injections increased femur length in juvenile mice. Human bone marrow stromal cells edited to contain the rs182722517 variant produced less Osteolectin and underwent less osteogenic differentiation than that of control cells. These studies identify Osteolectin/Integrin α11 as a regulator of bone elongation and body length in mice and humans.

Adult

Effects of different temperatures on chondrocyte growth: a transcriptomic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated that temperature-related microwave ablation (MWA) can safely modulate growth plates of piglets' vertebrae. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the effects of different temperatures on chondrocyte viability and the underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro. METHODS: Following a 10-minute treatment at different temperatures (37 °C, 40 °C, 42 °C, 44 °C, 46 °C, 48 °C, and 50 °C), CCK-8 assay was used to examine the viability of ATDC5 cells at 12 h. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the hub genes in ATDC5 cells treated at 37 °C, 40 °C and 44 °C were identified using RNA-seq. The expression of hub genes in ATDC5 cells was validated using RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Compared with 37 °C, exposure to 40 °C significantly increased the viability of ATDC5 cells, while 42 °C had no significant effect. Additionally, exposure to 44 °C, 46 °C, 48 °C, and 50 °C exhibited the opposite pattern, with ATDC5 cells being particularly less than 50% active after treatment at 46 °C, 48 °C, and 50 °C. Differential expression analysis identified 179, 374 and 221 DEGs in the comparisons of 40 °C vs. 37 °C, 44 °C vs. 37 °C, and 44 °C vs. 40 °C, respectively. These DEGs predominantly regulated proliferation, differentiation, necrosis, inflammatory and immune responses, and ECM synthesis/degradation. Furthermore, they were associated with the Ras, PI3K/AKT, mTOR, cAMP, and MAPK pathways. Agt, Hspa1a, Hspb1, and Nlrc4 were identified as hub genes in DEGs, and RT-qPCR confirmed that the mRNA expression patterns of these hub genes in ATDC5 cells were largely consistent with the RNA-seq results. CONCLUSION: The regulation of chondrocyte viability by temperature is associated with Ras, PI3K/AKT, mTOR, cAMP, and MAPK pathways. Additionally, Agt, Hspa1a, Hspb1, and Nlrc4 may be the key regulatory genes in this process.

Chondrocytes

Periodic fibrillar material in intracellular vesicles and in electron-dense bodies in chondrocytes of rat costal and tracheal cartilage at various ages.

The occurrence of intracellular fibrillar material (frequently banded) has been studied in normal costal and tracheal chondrocytes of rats at various ages ranging from 1 to 90 days. The study methods have included digestion with collagenase, electron histochemical techniques and routine electron microscopy. Banded fibrillar material has been observed intracellularly in vesicles or in electron-dense bodies in perichondrial and subperichondrial chondrocytes from rats of all ages. These fibrils and extracellular collagen fibrils are partially and equally degradable by collagenase, they are positive after staining with phosphotungstic acid or with silver nitrate methenamine, and their lucency corresponds with that of collagen when they are stained only with lead citrate. They have not been observed in intracellular clefts. They, therefore, seem to be formed intracellularly and to be exocytosed subsequently. Large vesicles and electron-dense bodies seem to be derived from Golgi saccules. A mechanism whereby banded intracellular fibrils could be formed from tropocollagen molecules is postulated. The frequency of occurrence and the diameter of intracellular fibrils seems to increase with increasing age.

Age Factors

Elastic fiber formation in monolayer and organ cultures of chondrocytes isolated from auricular cartilage.

Chondrocytes were isolated from auricular cartilage of immature rabbits and maintained in monolayer or organ culture for 14 days. In both types of culture the chondrocytes formed conspicuous elastic fibers. In monolayer culture the fibers could be identified by orcein staining in the culture dish. Electron microscopy of organ cultures revealed the presence of two basic components of elastic fibers, i.e. microfibrils and elastin.

Animals

Calcium localization in normal rachitic, and D3-treated chicken epiphyseal chondrocytes utilizing potassium pyroantimonate-osmium tetroxide.

Normal, rachitic, and vitamin D3-replete chicken growth plates were studied utilizing the potassium pyroantimonate-osmium tetroxide procedure. A marked membrane and mitochondrial calcium was revealed in all specimens in the maturing and early hypertrophic zones which disappeared as heavy matrix mineralization began. The most significant difference shown in the specimens was in the marked intracellular lipid content of chondrocytes in all zones of the rachitic and D3-replete growth plates. There was negligible lipid present in normal specimens. It is suggested that as most of the mechanisms postulated as necessary for calcification are present in rachitic chicks, perhaps the increased intracellular lipid pool results from the formation of abnormal lipids for insertion into the plasma membrane and thus prevents normal calcium transport. Chains of intracellular vesicles were also visualized in maturing and hypertrophic chondrocytes. These were more often seen in rachitic growth plates and in increased numbers in the early D3-replete specimens. The etiology is unknown at the present time.

Animals

Comparison of the in vitro effects of colchicine and its derivative colchiceine on chondrocyte morphology and function.

Colchiceine is a colchicine-metabolite which has been reported to inhibit axonal transport although not binding to brain tubulin. In the present study, colchiceine was shown not to depolymerize cytoplasmic microtubules, nor to mimic other effects of colchicine on the ultrastructure of cultured chondrocytes. In addition, the synthesis of proteoglycans was inhibited by colchicine but slightly stimulated by colchiceine. These results support the idea that the disturbances in cultured chondrocytes caused by colchicine are specifically related to a loss of cytoplasmic microtubules.

Animals

Chondrocyte metabolism as affected by vitamin A.

Chondrocytes from 13-day-old embryonic chick sterna were cultured for 6 days in the presence of vitamin A (10 I.U./ml). Vitamin A treated chondrocytes became flattened and stellate within the first 24 hours of culture. After 6 days of culture, the treated cells contained 59% less DNA than the untreated controls. Sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis was inhibited 84%, and a greater percentage of GAG was secreted into the medium (90%) than in control cultures (78%). Vitamin A inhibited cell proliferation, and to varying degrees, RNA and protein synthesis, and these effects are dose dependent.

Animals

Calcium localized in juxtanuclear granules of epiphyseal chondrocytes with a dilute glyoxal bis(2-hydroxyanil) solution.

The glyoxal bis(2-hydroxyanil) (GBHA) method for staining labile calcium deposits in chondrocytes was modified. Fresh blocks of epiphyseal cartilage stained in this dilute GBHA solution revealed calcium in the juxtanuclear Golgi vesicles, each approximately 1 mu in diameter. Prolonged staining revealed previously described 0.5 mu granules throughout the cytoplasm which tended to mask the juxtanuclear reaction. The red GBHA reaction product was believed to be a chelate of calcium since it was removable with EGTA, and stable in Na2CO3 and KCN solution. When the tissue blocks stained with the dilute GBHA solution were restained with the original concentrated GBHA solution, refractile bodies containing red GBHA-positive granules were revealed at the periphery of the hypertrophied chondrocytes. The presence of calcium in the juxtanuclear Golgi vesicles and in the pericellular refractile bodies may indicate that the Golgi is involved in the transport of minerals to the matrix.

Aminophenols

Sites of sulfatation in the chondrocytes of the articular cartilage of the rabbit. A study by quantitative radioautography of high resolution.

35S sulfate uptake by the articular cartilage chondrocytes, from biopsies of rabbit, have been studied by high resolution autoradiography. The Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, cytosol, cytoplasmic membrane and extracellular space were considered as cell compartments in the quantitative analysis of the autoradiograms. The results obtained show: 1) a high activity of radiosotope incorporation in the Golgi apparatus; 2) a fast rhythm of transfer of the substances labelled in the Golgi apparatus to the cell membrane; 3) significant labelling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, throughout the experiment. It is concluded: 1) The grains observed in the rough endoplasmic reticulum show a significant radioisotope uptake on this level, and this evidence some sulfotransferase activity. 2) The high 35S sulfate uptake level which is observed in the Golgi apparatus demonstrates that the highest sulfotransferase enzyme activity is located in this cell area, thus showing that the "early" sulfation that began in the rough endoplasmic reticulum was completed by a "late" sulfation in the Golgi apparatus. It is here that complete chondromucoprotein building takes place before being excreted. 3) The high transfer level of the labelled substances from the Golgi apparatus shows that the sulfated product secretion for building the cartilage matrix takes place rapidly since a great label increase can be already observed at the beginning of the chase period in the outer surrounding area of the chondrocyte membrane.

Animals

Fine structure of rabbit articular chondrocytes in tissue culture during logarithmic and confluent stages of growth.

Ultrastructural changes in cultured articular cartilage chondrocytes from rabbit, during two growth phases were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Cells in logarithmic growth are characterized by an abundance of intracellular lipoid bodies, little development of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and few cytoplasmic microfilaments. As the cells reach confluency there is a concomitant development of RER, organization and abundance of microfilaments, loss of lipoid bodies, and increase in the number of mitochondria. The fine structure of cultured chondrocytes is very similar to that of rabbit cartilage cells in situ, in that numerous lipoid bodies and microfilaments are prominent features in both cases.

Animals