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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The cartilage thickness distribution in the tibiofemoral joint and its correlation with cartilage-to-cartilage contact.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether regions of cartilage in the tibiofemoral joint where cartilage-to-cartilage contact occurred was thicker than other regions. DESIGN: In vivo human subjects. BACKGROUND: The thickness of the cartilage in the knee has been investigated in various studies. However, the factors that influence the thickness distribution within the joint remain unclear. METHODS: Six healthy living knees (5 male, 1 female, average age = 27) were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging. Three-dimensional models of the tibial and femoral cartilage layers were created. The cartilage thickness distribution was compared between regions where cartilage-to-cartilage contact was observed during in vivo weightbearing flexion and regions with no contact. RESULTS: The regions with cartilage-to-cartilage contact were significantly thicker than the regions without cartilage-to-cartilage contact (P < 0.05). On the medial condyle, the cartilage-to-cartilage contact regions were up to 40% thicker than regions with no contact. On the lateral femoral condyle, the maximum difference between these regions was 20%. On the tibial plateau, the maximal differences between regions with and without cartilage-to-cartilage contact were found to be 40% on the medial side and 50% on the lateral side. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggested that in normal knees, the cartilage was thicker in regions where cartilage-to-cartilage contact was present. Future studies should investigate the effects of in vivo loading on cartilage maintenance and growth. Relevance Injuries that alter knee kinematics might load regions of the joint where the cartilage is thinner. This might alter the stress distributions within the cartilage.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The nature and significance of invertebrate cartilages revisited: distribution and histology of cartilage and cartilage-like tissues within the Metazoa.

Tissues similar to vertebrate cartilage have been described throughout the Metazoa. Often the designation of tissues as cartilage within non-vertebrate lineages is based upon sparse supporting data. To be considered cartilage, a tissue should meet a number of histological criteria that include composition and organization of the extracellular matrix. To re-evaluate the distribution and structural properties of these tissues, we have re-investigated the histological properties of many of these tissues from fresh material, and review the existing literature on invertebrate cartilages. Chondroid connective tissue is common amongst invertebrates, and differs from invertebrate cartilage in the structure and organization of the cells that comprise it. Groups having extensive chondroid connective tissue include brachiopods, polychaetes, and urochordates. Cartilage is found within cephalopod mollusks, chelicerate arthropods and sabellid polychaetes. Skeletal tissues found within enteropneust hemichordates are unique in that the extracellular matrix shares many properties with vertebrate cartilage, yet these tissues are completely acellular. The possibility that this tissue may represent a new category of cartilage, acellular cartilage, is discussed. Immunoreactivity of some invertebrate cartilages with antibodies that recognize molecules specific to vertebrate bone suggests an intermediate phenotype between vertebrate cartilage and bone. Although cartilage is found within a number of invertebrate lineages, we find that not all tissues previously reported to be cartilage have the appropriate properties to merit their distinction as cartilage.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Degenerated human articular cartilage at autopsy represents preclinical osteoarthritic cartilage: comparison with clinically defined osteoarthritic cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether macroscopically fibrillated human articular knee cartilage observed at autopsy can be considered an early, preclinical phase of osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Histological and biochemical characteristics of 3 types of articular knee cartilage were compared: macroscopically degenerated knee cartilage obtained at autopsy (6 donors) from donors without clinical history of OA, normal healthy knee cartilage obtained at autopsy (6 donors), and OA cartilage obtained during joint replacement surgery from patients (n = 6) with clinically defined OA of the knee. From the same donors synovial tissue and synovial fluid were obtained and analyzed for features of inflammation. RESULTS: Histological changes of OA were comparable for degenerated and OA cartilage and significantly different from normal cartilage. Content and synthesis of proteoglycans showed intermediate levels for degenerated tissue compared to normal and OA cartilage. Analysis of synovial tissue revealed a low, mild, and moderate degree of inflammation for joints with normal, degenerated, and OA cartilage, respectively. The same sequence was found for metalloproteinase activity in synovial fluid. CONCLUSION: In general, all changes observed in OA joints were, to a lesser extent, observed in the joints with degenerated cartilage and were significantly different from joints with normal cartilage. We conclude that cartilage degeneration observed at autopsy can be considered a preclinical phase of OA, suitable for studying the process of cartilage degeneration in OA.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

A monoclonal antibody distinguishes growth cartilage from other types of cartilage: a new probe for osteogenic cartilage.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were raised by injection of a homogenate of cultured growth cartilage (GC) cells from young rabbit ribs. These mAbs were examined by immunohistochemical staining for their reactivity to paraffin sections of rabbit tissues. The results showed that an mAb reacted preferentially with late hypertrophic and calcified costal GC zones. The mAb also reacted with hypertrophic GC adjacent to bone that existed in sternum and femur, but not to other cartilages, including resting cartilage, articular cartilage, auricular cartilage, nasal cartilage, tracheal cartilage and meniscus cartilage, or with other tissues, including tendon, skin, muscles, lung, liver, heart, thymus, spleen, eye and gut. It reacted with a wider area of the GC zone when the sections were decalcified, although its reactivity with the extended area was much less intensive than that with late hypertrophic and calcified GC zones. On treatment of the sections with bacterial collagenase, neither the reactive area nor its intensity were changed, while when treated with trypsin the reactivity was lost. These results suggest the existence of a certain molecule which distinguishes GC (osteogenic cartilage) from other (non-osteogenic) cartilage. This mAb is a useful probe for distinguishing osteogenic cartilage from non-osteogenic cartilage, and for studying differentiation steps of cartilage cells in endochondral bone formation. The mAb can also be used as a probe for clinical and stored specimens because it reacts with decalcified and paraffin-embedded human specimens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Cartilage T2 assessment: differentiation of normal hyaline cartilage and reparative tissue after arthroscopic cartilage repair in equine subjects.

PURPOSE: To prospectively assess T2 mapping characteristics of normal articular cartilage and of cartilage at sites of arthroscopic repair, including comparison with histologic results and collagen organization assessed at polarized light microscopy (PLM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study protocol was compliant with the Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines and approved by the institutional animal care committee. Arthroscopic osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) and microfracture arthroplasty (MFx) were performed in knees of 10 equine subjects (seven female, three male; age range, 3-5 years). A site of arthroscopically normal cartilage was documented in each joint as a control site. Joints were harvested at 12 (n = 5) and 24 (n = 5) weeks postoperatively and were imaged at 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) with a 10-echo sagittal fast spin-echo acquisition. T2 maps of each site (21 OAT harvest, 10 MFx, 12 OAT plug, and 10 control sites) were calculated with linear least-squares curve fitting. Cartilage T2 maps were qualitatively graded as "organized" (normal transition of low-to-high T2 signal from deep to superficial cartilage zones) or "disorganized." Quantitative mean T2 values were calculated for deep, middle, and superficial cartilage at each location. Results were compared with histologic and PLM assessments by using kappa analysis. RESULTS: T2 maps were qualitatively graded as organized at 20 of 53 sites and as disorganized at 33 sites. Perfect agreement was seen between organized T2 and histologic findings of hyaline cartilage and between disorganized T2 and histologic findings of fibrous reparative tissue (kappa = 1.0). Strong agreement was seen between organized T2 and normal PLM findings and between disorganized T2 and abnormal PLM findings (kappa = .92). Quantitative assessment of the deep, middle, and superficial cartilage, respectively, showed mean T2 values of 53.3, 58.6, and 54.9 msec at reparative fibrous tissue sites and 40.7, 53.6, and 61.6 msec at hyaline cartilage sites. A significant trend of increasing T2 values (from deep to superficial) was found in hyaline cartilage (P < .01). Fibrous tissue sites had no significant change with depth (P > .59). CONCLUSION: Qualitative and quantitative T2 mapping helped differentiate hyaline cartilage from reparative fibrocartilage after cartilage repair at 1.5-T MR imaging.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Cartilage proteoglycan-induced arthritis in BALB/c mice. Antibodies that recognize human and mouse cartilage proteoglycan and can cause depletion of cartilage proteoglycan with little or no synovitis.

Human fetal cartilage proteoglycan (PG) induces the development of an erosive polyarthritis and spondylitis in BALB/c mice. We have examined the properties of 3 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to human fetal cartilage PG isolated from immunized mice that cross-react with mouse cartilage PG. Compared with sera from arthritic mice, which contain antibodies reactive with keratan sulfate, MAb 202 (IgG1) reacted only with a protein-related epitope that is distributed on both hyaluronic acid-binding and chondroitin sulfate-attachment regions. MAb 813 (IgG1) reacted with the same fragments and recognized an epitope with the immunologic characteristics of keratan sulfate. MAb 945 (IgM) remains to be further characterized. Introduction of hybridomas secreting MAb 202 and MAb 945 into irradiated mice resulted in the loss of PG from articular cartilage and from growth plate cartilage (with MAb 202 only), as revealed by a loss of staining with toluidine blue. There was no synovial hyperplasia with MAb 202, but some hyperplasia and mononuclear cell infiltration was seen with MAb 945. This was accompanied by the binding of immunoglobulins to articular cartilage, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence. The hybridoma secreting MAb 813 produced no cartilage changes or synovitis, and there was no immunoglobulin binding to cartilage. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was never observed with these antibodies. These studies indicate that MAb reactive with mouse cartilage PG can cause the depletion of PG from hyaline cartilage by mechanisms that may be both complement dependent and complement independent. Antibodies may serve to release and expose PG antigen to immune cells, as well as causing a loss of the mechanical properties of cartilage that are PG dependent.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Morphology, histochemistry, and differentiation of the cat's epiglottic cartilage: a supporting organ composed of elastic cartilage, fibrous cartilage, myxoid tissue, and fat tissue.

BACKGROUND: In carnivores, the supporting organ of the epiglottis is usually called "epiglottic cartilage" (EC) although it is composed of elastic cartilage and unilocular fat storing cells. We studied the cat's EC in order to decide whether these fat storing cells are true adipocytes or fat storing (dedifferentiated) chondrocytes. METHODS: ECs were studied in cat embryos at gestation days 40 and 60, in newborn, postnatal, and adult cats. We used classical staining methods, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy to identify the different kinds of tissues contributing to the EC and to follow their differentiation. RESULTS: The cat's EC was defined by a layer of coarse collagen fibers representing a tunica albuginea. This tunica covered irregularly formed and irregularly sized areas of elastic cartilage, fibrous cartilage, myxoid tissue, and lobules of unilocular fat cells. All these tissue showed regular morphology. Adipocytes were provided with continuous basal laminae and fat lobules were well supplied with capillaries. Alcianophilia of ground substance was observed in all tissue components but was strongest in elastic cartilage. Most islets of elastic cartilage adhered to the tunica albuginea of the EC at one surface and were connected to the opposite surface by coarse strands of connective tissue traversing the organ. Intercalated areas of fibrous cartilage contained fuchsinophilic collagen bundles. Myxoid tissue was characterized by stellate cells in alcianophilic ground substance with intermingled fuchsinophilic bundles. All kinds of supporting tissues combined with each other without clear demarcation. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong reactivity for S-100 of chondrocytes, myxoid cells, and fat cells. Chondrocytes and myxoid cells also stained for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament protein 200, and neuron specific enolase. During development, condensation of mesenchymal cells indicated the blastema of the EC at gestation day 40. At day 60, delicate collagen fibrils indicated the future tunica albuginea, faint alcianophilia was noted in the ground substance, and multilocular fat cells were scattered throughout the blastema. At birth, alcianophilia was moderate and multilocular fat cells were numerous. Three weeks after birth, single and grouped unilocular fat cells were seen, alcianophilia of ground substance was prominent, and former blastema cells presented as ramified myxoid cells. Eight weeks after birth, the EC primarily consisted of myxoid tissue, but the first islets of cartilage were seen in the center of myxoid areas. Unilocular fat cells already formed lobules. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that in the cat EC a) differentiation of adipocytes precedes differentiation of all the other tissue components, and b) differentiation of myxoid tissue precedes differentiation of cartilage. It is concluded that myxoid tissue may serve as a precursor of fibrous and elastic cartilage.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2004

Relationship between the area of cartilage shown on the magnetic resonance imaging middle-slice image of the medial and lateral tibial cartilages with cartilage volume and grade of osteoarthritis over time.

OBJECTIVE: Knee cartilage volume measurement requires significant time and training. Simplifying the measurement may improve feasibility. We investigated whether the area of cartilage shown on the middle slice of the medial and lateral tibial cartilages on sagittal MRI correlates with radiological features of osteoarthritis (OA), cartilage volume, and longitudinal change in cartilage volume. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-three subjects (normal and osteoarthritic), who had serial magnetic resonance imaging (cartilage volume measured) and baseline weight-bearing antero-posterior radiographs of the same knee were examined. RESULTS: In the lateral compartment, with increasing grade of OA there was a significant reduction in cartilage area. In the medial compartment, this was true for medial joint-space narrowing (after adjusting for gender). There was a moderate to strong association between cartilage area and volume, especially in those with early or no OA. However, when change over time was examined, the strength of these relationships was weak. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that cartilage area may provide a simple surrogate measure of cartilage volume, in cross-sectional studies, after adjustment for gender: especially in subjects with early disease. However, before it can be widely used, further investigation will be required.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Osteogenic activity of growth cartilage examined by implanting decalcified or devitalized ribs and costal cartilage zone, and living growth cartilage cells.

The formation of cartilage prior to bone in an endochondral bone formation process suggests that some osteogenic factors exist in the cartilage. This osteogenic activity of cartilage or cartilage cells was examined by implanting ribs and costal cartilage zone into a subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall, or the growth cartilage (GC) cells into a peritoneal cavity. Rib segments of young (four-week-old) rabbits and rats were decalcified (DCed) in 0.6 N HCl for 24 h at 4 degrees C, or devitalized (DVed) by freezing/thawing and submerged in water for 48 h at 4 degrees C. These specimens were implanted into the subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall of eight-week-old rabbits and rats. Both the DCed ribs and the DVed ones formed bone at costal GC zone after four to six weeks. Costal cartilage zone of young rabbits and rats was DCed or DVed as stated above, and implanted into the subcutaneous pocket of abdominal wall of eight-week-old rabbits and rats. The DVed costal cartilage zone specimens formed bone after three to four weeks, but the DCed ones did not, even after eight weeks. GC cells were dissociated enzymatically from rat costal GC zone, centrifuged to be made into pellets (5 x 10(5) cells/pellet), and implanted into the peritoneal cavity of eight-week-old syngeneic rats. After four weeks, implanted GC cells formed bone. These results suggest that there are some osteogenic factors in the GC zone produced by GC cells, whose activity is lost by decalcification, and which are different from known BMPs.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed2004

Which cartilage is regenerated, hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage? Non-invasive ultrasonic evaluation of tissue-engineered cartilage.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ultrasonic evaluation methods for detecting whether the repair tissue is hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage in new cartilage regeneration therapy. METHODS: We examined four experimental rabbit models: a spontaneous repair model (group S), a large cartilage defect model (group L), a periosteal graft model (group P) and a tissue-engineered cartilage regeneration model (group T). From the resulting ultrasonic evaluation, we used %MM (the maximum magnitude of the measurement area divided by that of the intact cartilage) as a quantitative index of cartilage regeneration. The results of the ultrasonic evaluation were compared with the histological findings and histological score. RESULTS: The %MM values were 61.1 +/- 16.5% in group S, 29.8 +/- 15.1% in group L, 36.3 +/- 18.3% in group P and 76.5 +/- 18.7% in group T. The results showed a strong similarity to the histological scoring. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonic examination showed that all the hyaline-like cartilage in groups S and T had a high %MM (more than 60%). Therefore, we could define the borderline between the two types of regenerated cartilage by the %MM.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The distribution of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in equine carpal articular cartilage and its variation with exercise and cartilage deterioration.

Based on previous studies where tendons receiving the most load have been shown to have the highest levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), we hypothesized that COMP distribution in articular cartilage may be influenced by mechanical loading. This investigation aimed (a) to describe the pattern of COMP immunoreactivity in middle carpal joint cartilage of two-year-old Thoroughbred horses; (b) to determine topographical variations; (c) to compare high (group 1) and low (group 2) intensity training and (d) to describe COMP immunoreactivity at sites with early osteoarthritis. Group 1 (n =6) underwent a 19 week high-intensity treadmill training programme and group 2 (n =6) were given daily walking until euthanasia. Dorsal and palmar sites on radial and third carpal articular surfaces were prepared. Immunohistochemistry was performed with polyclonal rabbit anti-equine COMP antiserum using a biotin-streptavidin/peroxidase method. Results showed: (a) intracellular immunoreactivity was present in all cartilage zones, but the distribution of COMP staining within the matrix varied between cartilage zones; (b) differences in distribution between sites were not observed, but total COMP levels in exercised horses (n =2) did vary between sites with dorsal sites containing less COMP than palmar sites on the radial, intermediate and third carpal lateral facet; (c) group 1 cartilage showed marked interterritorial distribution in the deep layer compared to group 2 where staining was more generalized throughout the matrix and (d) fibrillated cartilage showed increased local immunoreactivity in the matrix. These findings demonstrate zonal variations in equine COMP distribution which may be influenced by loading.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Articular cartilage cells immortalized by a temperature sensitive mutant of SV40 large T antigen survive and form cartilage tissue in articular cartilage environment.

A chondrogenic cell line, TC6, was established by using cells derived from articular cartilage of transgenic mice harboring a temperature-sensitive mutant simian virus (SV) 40 large T-antigen gene. TC6 cells express genes encoding proteins related to cartilage phenotypes such as type II collagen. To examine the in vivo behavior of the TC6 cells, these cells were implanted into cavity-shaped full-thickness defects made in the articular cartilage of the central part of the patellar grooves of mouse femora. One week after implantation, the morphology of the cells was still fibroblastic but these cells were just about to start to form a cartilage-like matrix. By 6 weeks after implantation, the cells had produced abundant cartilaginous matrix and their morphology became closer to that of authentic chondrocytes. This was in sharp contrast to the fibroblastic morphology of these cells in an in vitro environment even after long-term culture. These observations indicate that a cartilage-matrix environment provides a scaffold for the TC6 cells to form cartilage tissues. Our data show that the genetically engineered chondrocytic cell line, TC6, can form a cartilage-like matrix in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Inhibition of interleukin-1alpha-induced cartilage oligomeric matrix protein degradation in bovine articular cartilage by matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors: potential role for matrix metalloproteinases in the generation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein fragments in arthritic synovial fluid.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) to produce fragments similar to those found in synovial fluid (SF) from patients with arthritis. METHODS: COMP fragments were generated in vitro by treating (a) bovine articular cartilage with interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), (b) purified bovine COMP with MMPs, and (c) articular cartilage with MMPs. The fragments generated in each case were analyzed by Western blot, using an antibody to the C-terminal heptadecapeptide of COMP. RESULTS: IL-1alpha stimulation of cartilage resulted in a fragmentation of COMP, which was inhibited by MMP inhibitors CGS 27023A and BB-94. Isolated, recombinant MMPs rapidly degraded purified COMP, as well as COMP residing in cartilage. Several COMP fragments produced in vitro had similar electrophoretic mobility to those in SF of patients with arthritis. CONCLUSION: MMPs may contribute to the COMP fragments found in vivo. Quantitation of MMP-specific fragments may be useful in the evaluation of MMP inhibitors in patients with arthritis.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Morphological study of the epiphyseal cartilage in cartilage matrix deficiency (CMD) mouse--a consideration on the roles and functions of cartilage-specific proteoglycan].

Epiphyseal cartilages in mouse with cartilage matrix deficiency due to genetic failure to synthesize cartilage-characteristic proteoglycan were examined under light and electron microscope. Chondrogenesis and proliferation of chondrocytes seemed to occur, though extracellular matrix was small in amount and chondrocytes were packed closely without consistent orientation. In diaphysis, hypertrophic change of chondrocytes and perichondral ossification were observed. In the epiphysis, there was neither zone formation nor column formation, but hypertrophic chondrocytes and calcification in matrix were observed in the area adjacent to the bone shaft. Electron microscopy showed dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, swelling of mitochondria and a large amount of lipid deposition in the chondrocyte. In the cartilage matrix, it was characteristic that a large number of thick collagen fibrils was arranged in parallel and few matrix granule was seen. These findings suggested that cartilage-characteristic proteoglycan was not essential for chondrogenesis, proliferation of chondrocytes and ossification, but were important for cytodifferentiation and chondrocyte activity.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Proteoglycan aggregation in injured articular cartilage. A comparison of healing lacerated cartilage with osteoarthritic cartilage.

Canine knee cartilage which had been damaged by laceration with a scalpel down to subchondral bone (Model A) and knee cartilage from dogs in whom osteoarthritis had been induced by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament by arthrotomy (Model B) were compared 7 weeks after the surgical procedures. Cartilage from the operated knees in Model A was hypocellular and showed extensive fibrosis, while samples from Model B showed moderate fibrillation and osteophyte formation. (In both cases water content was increased and uronic acid content decreased in cartilage from the operated knees.) Despite the much greater pathomorphologic changes in Model A, aggregation of 35S proteoglycans synthesized in culture was unchanged by the operation, while in Model B the proportion of proteoglycans existing as aggregates was diminished.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cartilage and bone formation in repairing Achilles tendons within diffusion chambers: evidence for tendon-cartilage and cartilage-bone conversion in vivo.

Rodent Achilles tendons were subjected to midpoint tenotomy and allowed to recover for various times in situ before the operated tissue was removed, placed into a Millipore diffusion chamber, and inserted intraperitoneally into syngeneic hosts. Diffusion chambers were then removed at weekly intervals, such that the total time after the operation (i.e., time allowed to recover in situ plus time within the diffusion chamber) was up to 8 weeks, and examined histologically. Ectopic cartilage was produced within the diffusion chamber after a total of 4 weeks but only if the first 2 weeks of recovery were in situ. With increasing time, calcified cartilage, osteoid, and bone were also observed. Overall, the evidence suggests that the cartilage forms via a direct conversion from tendon tissue and that the bone may form as a result of differentiative changes of hypertrophic chondrocytes.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed2003

Collagens--major component of the physiological cartilage matrix, major target of cartilage degeneration, major tool in cartilage repair.

Collagens serve important mechanical functions throughout the body and in particular in the connective tissues. Additionally, collagens exert important functions as cellular microenvironment and partly via binding and release of cellular growth mediators. In articular cartilage, fibrillar collagens are providing most of the biomechanical properties of the extracellular matrix essential for its functioning. The collagenous matrix is one main target of destructive processes in general degenerative joint disease and focal matrix lesions. The development of an adequate collagen framework represents the major aim of therapeutic cartilage repair. In this respect, collagenous matrices or collagen-imitating scaffolds are more and more emerging as highly suitable vehicles for cell and (growth) factor transport into cartilage lesion. Thus, collagens are not only major constituents of connective tissues in terms of integrity and function, they are also major targets of tissue destruction and regeneration and might become major tools to achieve tissue repair.

Absorbable Implants↗