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Vitamin D and cartilage. I. In vitro metabolism of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol by cartilage.

In the present work, the capacity of cartilage to metabolize 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was investigated. Cartilage preparations from growth plate, articular surface, rib, scapula, and ear were isolated from 3-week-old normal rabbits and chickens. Each tissue was separately incubated with tritiated 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (, x 10(-9) M) for 1-24 h. Incubations of kidney and muscle were performed simultaneously for comparison. Similarly, cultured chondrocytes isolated from rabbit growth plate and articular cartilage were incubated for 1 or 20 h in medium free of fetal calf serum. After methanol-chloroform extraction of tissues, cells, and their respective media, chloroform phases were chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 columns. The results show that kidney and cartilage are able to convert 25-hydroxycholecalciferol into a derivative which migrates in the 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol region. Cartilage tissue previously boiled is unable to metabolize 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. The conversion of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol occurs with all types of cartilage and is also observed in incubations of cultured chondrocytes. In the latter, the polar 25-hydroxycholecalciferol derivative is detected as early as 1 h after addition of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. Two findings suggest that the polar derivative of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol produced by cartilage is 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol: 1) the cartilage derivative and 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (synthetic and biosynthetic) comigrate during Sephadex LH-20 and high liquid pressure chromatography; and 2) both the cartilage derivative and 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol are sensitive to periodate treatment.

Animals

Cartilage space width in slipped capital femoral epiphysis: the relationship to cartilage necrosis.

The radiolucent cartilage space of eighty-three patients with unilateral or bilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis was measured by a standardized technique. In the majority of patients, whether unilateral or bilateral involvement, there was bilateral narrowing of the cartilage space. In the unaffected hip of unilaterally involved patients, there was a progressive narrowing as skeletal maturity was attained. A concomitant anatomical study of cadaver hips, removed at autopsy from adolescent patients, showed a progressive narrowing of the cartilage as the proximal femur matured. Black females showed most narrowing (minimum cartilage space width), had the narrowest final cartilage space widths, and took the longest to attain this final width. While other racial, sexual and therapeutic groups failed to demonstrate statistically significant differences, the general trend was for females, Blacks, and patients treated by osteotomy to have more joint space narrowing. However, rewidening occurred in most of these affected joint spaces, in contrast to the progressive linear decrease observed in unaffected hips and anatomical specimens. On the basis of this study, we feel that cartilage space narrowing may be anticipated in the post-operative period in most patients treated for slipped capital femoral epiphysis. This narrowing appears to improve with time. Narrowing of greater than one-half the original width, in association with pain and limitation of joint function, probably represents "cartilage necrosis," or pathologic joint space narrowing. Unless the narrowing remains less than one-half to two-thirds of the initial cartilage space for more than twenty-four to thirty-six months, probably no specific surgical treatment should be undertaken, other than observation and protected weight bearing during any painful phase. Plotting the roentgenographic cartilage space width during the three month to thirty-six month phase may be useful in monitoring and predicting the outcome.

Adolescent

Growth behaviour of condylar cartilage and epiphyseal cartilage on the different medium of the organ culture.

In order to compare histological differences between the condylar and epiphyseal cartilages, an organ culture system was employed. Materials from 36 neonatal rabbits were cultured for 7 days on three different, chemically defined media (Ham F12, Medium 199, and Eagle's minimum essential medium) with the addition of various concentrations of ascorbic acid, fetal calf serum and NaHCO3. The epiphyseal cartilage was maintained in situ histological and biochemical features better than the condylar cartilage on any of the medium used. The maximum sensitivity to Toluidine Blue staining of the cultured condylar cartilage was observed on Ham F12. For both the condylar and epiphyseal cartilages, Ham F12 with the addition of 50 microgram/ml ascorbic acid and higher concentration of NaHCO3 was more effective on the maintenance of cell organization. However, effect of the addition of fetal calf serum to the medium was quite different between the condylar and epiphyseal cartilages, that is, the former showed better histological features without the addition, but the latter showed features similar to that in situ with 20% addition of fetal calf serum.

Animals

Metalloproteases of human articular cartilage that digest cartilage proteoglycan at neutral and acid pH.

Extracts of human articular cartilage contain proteases capable of degrading the proteoglycan component of cartilage matrix at neutral and acid pH. These enzymes have been partially purified by ion exchange chromotography and characterized by disc electrophoresis, inhibition patterns, and action of proteoglycan. Three distinct metalloproteases are described. A neutral protease that digests proteoglycan subunit optimally at pH 7.25 has been purified up to 900-fold. It is strongly inhibited by o-phenanthroline, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and egg white, and to a lesser extent by D-penicillamine and EDTA. Inhibition by chelating agents is reversed by cobalt, zinc, and ferrous ions. Two acid metalloproteases, distinct from cathespins B1, D, and F, digest proteoglycan subunit at pH 4.5 and 5.5. Both are inhibited by o-phenanthroline and activity is restored by cobalt, zinc, or ferrous ions. With electron microscopy, it was found that cartilage slices were depleted of ruthenium red-staining matrix proteoglycan after incubation in vitro with a partially purified cartilage extract at neutral pH. Sedimentation, gel chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, and immuno-diffusion studies of digests of isolated proteoglycan fraction produced by the partially purified cartilage extract at neutral and acid pH confirmed that the cartilage enzymes act only on the protein component of proteoglycan subunit, producing fragments with 5 to 12 chondroitin sulfate chains. The link proteins were not digested.

Cartilage, Articular

[The cellularity of fibrillated articular cartilage. A comparative study of age-related and osteoarthrotic cartilage lesions from the human femoral head].

The cellularity of human femoral head cartilage has been studied in age-related and osteoarthrotic fibrillated samples and control intact samples. Age-related fibrillated cartilage shows a marked increase of the cell density which is directly related to the proliferation of cell clusters and to cartilage thinning. In osteoarthrotic cartilage lesions multicellular clusters are less frequent and cell density is decreased. A smooth aspect of the exposed cartilage surface and an increased subchondral bone mass are only found in osteoar/hrotic samples. The findings suggest that age-related and osteoarthrotic cartilage lesions are due to different mechanical stresses governing the cellularity of the tissue.

Aging

Localisation-Dependent Variations in Articular Cartilage ECM: Implications for Tissue Engineering and Cartilage Repair.

Articular cartilage (AC) is a specialised connective tissue covering joint surfaces. It enables smooth movement, distributes mechanical loads, and protects the underlying bone. In response to loading, AC adapts by modifying both its thickness and composition. AC is organised in different zones, with low cellularity and a high abundance of extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanical overloading or immobilisation can lead to structural changes, potentially resulting in osteoarthritis (OA), for which no causal treatment currently exists. However, smaller defects can be treated using chondrocyte/cartilage transplantation or tissue engineering. A better understanding of the molecular composition of AC at different locations is essential to improve such therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, we performed a comprehensive analysis of porcine femoral knee cartilage at eight defined anatomical sites. Cartilage thickness and proteoglycan (PG) content were analysed histologically, while specific ECM proteins were assessed by proteomics and validated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Significant differences were identified, particularly between medial and lateral compartments, in terms of cartilage thickness, PG abundance, and ECM composition. Some proteins also showed zone-specific localisation patterns. These structural differences likely reflect adaptation to mechanical loading and should be considered to optimise future cartilage repair and tissue engineering strategies.

Extracellular Matrix

Aggregation of cartilage proteoglycans. II Evidence for the presence of a hyaluronate-binding region on proteoglycans from osteoarthritic cartilage.

Proteoglycan aggregates isolated from normal bovine knee cartilage were larger than those from osteoarthritic cartilage of the same joints and appeared relatively more resistant to digestion with leech hyaluronidase. Incubation of proteoglycan subunits from the arthritic cartilage with hyaluronic acid resulted in marked aggregation, comparable in magnitude to that shown by subunits from normal cartilage. The results indicate that the hyaluronate-binding region of these proteoglycans was functionally intact and suggest that diminished aggregation of proteoglycans in osteoarthritic cartilage may be due to an abnormality in some other constituent of the aggregates.

Animals

Articular cartilage preservation and storage. I. Application of tissue culture techniques to the storage of viable articular cartilage.

Articular cartilage slice explants were stored under various conditions, including freezing-thawing at various rates by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotective agent, incubating in standard tissue culture medium (MEM Eagle:NCTC 135:15% fetal calf serum) in 5% CO2 and air at 4 degrees, 21 degrees, and 37 degrees C, and incubating in standard tissue culture medium containing 200 micrograms/ml alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) at 37 degrees C after first ascertaining a dose-response curve of vitamin E. Results indicated that articular cartilage slice explants did not survive freezing or storage at 4 degrees and 21 degrees C as measured by 35S uptake. When stored at 37 degrees C in standard tissue culture in 5% CO2 and air, the slice explants remained viable for up to 60 days. The addition of alpha-tocopherol to the medium resulted in significantly less release of previously incorporated 35Sin stored cartilage slices and significantly less reduction of the amount of hexosamine present in the stored explants. alpha-Tocopherol in the medium also preserved safranin O staining. Thus, the application of tissue culture techniques to the storage of articular cartilage made it possible to preserve cartilage slice explants in a viable, biochemically "normal" state.

Animals

Evidence of cartilage flow in deep defects in articular cartilage.

Full thickness defects (core defects) violating subchondral bone were created in the weight-bearing area of articular cartilage lining the rabbit medial femoral condyle. The repair reaction that follows has two components: (1) a sliding and flowing of cartilage over the edge of the defect and (2) a filling of the defect by repair tissue arising from the marrow spaces. Past studies have paid little or no attention to cartilage flow but this first scanning electron microscopic study of deep defects shows that it is an important phenomenon which materially affects the changes that occur and also the outcome of such injuries. Briefly, we have found that in most cases the cartilage flows downwards into the core defect. The repair tissue then grows along and over the "toed-in" catilage. In other cases the flowing cartilage rides over the repair tissue from the marrow spaces and as a result of load bearing and joint movement, becomes frayed and drawn out into long ribbons and rope-like structures.

Animals

Action of rheumatoid synovial collagenase on cartilage collagen. Different susceptibilities of cartilage and tendon collagen to collagenase attack.

The action of purified rheumatoid synovial collagenase on purified cartilage collagen, alpha-1(II)-3, in solution at 25 degrees C has been characterised. The enzyme attacked cartilage collagen in solution producing a 58% reduction in specific viscosity and resulting in the appearance of two reaction products which represented approximately three-quarter and one-quarter fragments of the intact molecule as shown by disc electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. The alpha-chain fragments which comprised each of these components corresponded to molecular weights of approximately 74000 and 21000. Electron microscopy of segment-long-spacing crystallites of the reaction products revealed three-quarter (TC-a) and one-quarter (TC-b) length fragments, and permitted accurate localization of the cleavage locus between bands 41 and 42 (I-41). This cleavage site and the formation of TC-a and TC-b reaction products are very similar to those found for type-I collagen substrates. Cartilage collagen in solution was found to be more resistant to collagenase attack than tendon collagen, the rate of cartilage collagen degradation being six times slower than that for tendon collagen, as judged by viscometry. The mid-point melting temperatures (T-m) for lathyritic cartilage and tendon collagen were 40.5 and 41.5 degrees C, and for the collagenase-produced reaction products 38.5 and 37.5 degrees C, respectively. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the structure of type I and II collagens.

Animals

Degradation of cartilage proteoglycan by human leukocyte granule neutral proteases--a model of joint injury. I. Penetration of enzyme into rabbit articular cartilage and release of 35SO4-labeled material from the tissue.

The present work was undertaken to explore the effect of two purified neutral proteases derived from human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) on articular cartilage as a model of joint injury. Human leukocyte elastase and chymotrypsin-like enzyme, purified by affinity chromatography, released 32SO4 from labeled rabbit articular cartilage slices in vitro. Release of isotope was initially delayed, suggesting that either a lag in enzyme penetration occurs or that size of degradation fragments is a limiting factor in diffusion of label out of the tissue. The release of 35SO4 was inhibited by preincubation of elastase and chymotrypsin-like enzyme with human alpha 1-anti-trypsin, or with their specific chloromethyl ketone inactivators, and the action of elastase was also inhibited by a monospecific antiserum to PMN elastase, freed of major serum proteinase inhibitors. Immunohistochemical staining procedures revealed the presence of PMN elastase inside the matrix of cartilage slices after a 20-min exposure of tissue to either the pure enzyme or crude PMN granule extract. Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin failed to penetrate into the cartilage slices under identical in vitro conditions. In association with the results reported in the accompanying paper, these findings suggest a model of cartilage matrix degradation by PMN neutral proteases in which local protease-antiprotease imbalance, coupled with different rates of penetration of protease and antiprotease into target tissue, plays a key role in accounting for matrix damage.

Animals

Degradation of cartilage proteoglycan by human leukocyte granule neutral proteases--a model of joint injury. II. Degradation of isolated bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan.

Extracts of human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules, and two purified proteases derived from such extracts, an elastase and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme, degrade isolated bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan at neutral pH. Viscosity studies indicate that the leukocyte granule extracts lack hyaluronidase activity and that their degradative effect on proteoglycan at physiological pH is due entirely to proteolytic action. Sepharose 4B gel chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteoglycan fractions treated with leukocyte granule enzymes at pH 7.0 indicate that they degrade one of the proteoglycan link proteins, release a fragment from the hyaluronic acid-binding portion of the proteoglycan subunit core protein, and break down the remainder of the proteoglycan subunit molecule into peptide fragments with varying numbers of chondroitin sulfate chains. Immunodiffusion studies indicate that the antigenic determinants of the proteoglycan subunit core protein and the link proteins survive treatment with granule proteases. Similar degradation of human articular cartilage proteoglycan by granule neutral proteases can be presumed to occur, in view of the similarity of structure of human articular and bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycans. The release of granule enzymes in the course of neutrophil-mediated inflammation can thus result in the degradation of cartilage matrix proteoglycan, leading to cartilage destruction and joint injury.

Animals

Effect of cartilage bone-marrow extract on articular cartilage collagen formation.

Cartilage bone-marrow extract has stimulated the collagen formation of articular as well as sternal cartilage collagen in chick embryo. Collagen biosynthesis has been stimulated also in other investigated tissues, i.e. in cornea and sclera of chick embryo as well as in sponge granuloma of rats, where mainly formation of collagen type I was stimulated. Glycosaminoglycans formation has also been increased after administration of cartilage bone-marrow extract.

Animals

Articular cartilage preservation and storage. II. Mechanical indentation testing of viable, stored articular cartilage.

Mature rabbit articular cartilage in the form of distal femoral condyles, composite osteoarticular structures, were incubated in the presence of alpha-tocopherol (200 micrograms/ml) over a period of time. Indentation testing and 35S uptake indicate preservation of sustained load carrying capacity and viability, respectively, in the presence of alpha-tocopherol for up to 30 days in organ culture. Condylar cartilage stored in the absence of alpha-tocopherol as well as frozen cartilage demonstrated progressive inability to resist sustained loading over time. Nonoptimal synthetic function apparently occurred in these latter two groups when compared to alpha-tocopherol stored material.

Animals

The fate of the articular cartilage in intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck (articular cartilage in femoral neck fracture).

The fate of the articular cartilage of the hip joint with intracapsular neck fracture was studied by histological, histochemical and autoradiographic techniques and by using a polarized microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Cartilage specimens from 93 femoral heads and 7 acetabula were obtained from fractured hips 2 days to 4 1/3 years postfracture and from control hips with various disorders. The cartilage degeneration appeared 2 weeks after fracture and advanced steadily with time. The matrix was covered, invaded and ultimately replaced by the fibrous tissue. Chondrocyte viability, though it was lost from the surface, was recognized in the deep matrix even in the oldest fracture examined. It is concluded that the humoral factor directly caused by the injury as well as the biomechanical impairment, i.e. a loss of physical stress, may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the degeneration. The possibility of regeneration was discussed.

Acetabulum

Studies on the polydispersity and heterogeneity of cartilage proteoglycans. Identification of 3 proteoglycan structures in bovine nasal cartilage.

1. Three chondroitin sulphate components were isolated from adult bovine nasal cartilage after treatment with alkaline NaB3H. Average molecular weights of 13000, 18 600 and 28 000 were obtained for chondroitin sulphate species representing 10, 52 and 38% (w/w) of the total chondroitin sulphate respectively. Each chondroitin sulphate pool has a narrow molecular-weight distribution. 2. A proteoglycan subunit preparation, isolated from one nasal cartilage by extraction and density-gradient fractionation in dissociative solvents, partitioned on a CSCl density gradient according to size and composition. Variation of proteoglycan molecular weight across the gradient was directly related to the average chondrotin sulphate chain length, which in turn reflected the relative proportion of the three chondroitin sulphate pools in each proteoglycan fraction. Consideration of proteoglycan molecular parameters, compositions and behaviour on sedimentation leads to a proposal that nasal cartilage contains 3 distinct proteoglycan pools, each of which has a constant number of chondroitin sulphate side chains of different average molecular weight. 3. Molecular-weight distribution parameters for these proteoglycan preparations indicate that all serine residues on the protein core capable of initiating chondroitin sulphate biosynthesis are occupied and that proteoglycan polydispersity results directly from the polydispersity of the attached chondroitin sulphate component.

Amino Acids

Cathepsin D activity in bovine articular cartilage, synovial membrane and fluid: degradation of cartilage proteoglycans from same joint.

Cathepsin D type proteases were extracted from articular cartilage, synovial membrane, and synovial fluid from normal, adult bovine knee joints. A sensitive enzyme assay made it possible to measure protease activity in the different tissues from individual joints. Highest activity was found in the synovial membrane, while cell free synovial fluids contained comparatively low activity. The degrading effect on articular cartilage proteoglycans (PGC and PGS), isolated from the same joints, was demonstrated by gelfiltration on Sepharose columns and by viscometry. Gelfiltration profiles of incubation mixtures indicated a proteolytic effect on PGC and on PGS), at pH 3.5, in concentrations of enzyme and proteoglycans found in cartilage tissue. No effect at neutral pH was obtained despite a 100-fold increase of enzyme concentration. These findings were supported by viscometry data. The degrading effect of enzymes from all sources was completely inhibited by pepstatin.

Animals

[Preservation of articular cartilage. 2. Behavior of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the intracellular substance of preserved articular cartilage (histo- and biochemical studies)].

Glucosaminoglucanes (acid mucopolysaccharides) were assessed by means of histochemic and biochemic methods in differently preserved articular cartilages of adult Alsatian dogs. Immediately after lyophilization, resp. 14 days after preservation at --196 degrees C., the glucosaminoglucanes decrease, whereas they are present in undiminished concentration after deep-freezing preservation (--18 degrees C. and --78 degrees C.) up to 30 months, and at +4 degrees C. up to 100 days. No more destruction of glucosaminoglucanes occurs after dying of chondrocytes, obviously depending on blocking the glucosaminoglucanes destructing enzymes during the freezing. With regard to the investigations on the vitality, deep-freezing preservation at --18 degrees C. to --78 degrees C. is recommended for storage of avital articular cartilage. Preservation of vital articular cartilage is possible for 28 days at +4 C. in 5 per cent glucose solution.

Animals