Phenotypic modulation in sub-populations of human articular chondrocytes in vitro

1990 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.W. Archer ◽  
J. McDowell ◽  
M.T. Bayliss ◽  
M.D. Stephens ◽  
G. Bentley

Human articular cartilage has been separated into surface (approx. 15% of tissue depth) and deep zones (remaining tissue) and the constituent chondrocytes released by enzymic digestion. Subsequent culture either as a low density monolayer or as a suspension over agarose revealed distinct morphological and synthetic behaviour in the two populations. Whilst in monolayer these morphological differences disappeared with time in culture, over agarose they remained. Surface zone cells formed two types of cell cluster; one that was highly cellular with little extracellular matrix, and the other less frequent, which formed copious amounts of fibrillar matrix. Both types of cluster were surrounded by a layer of flattened chondrocytes. In contrast, deep cells formed a single cluster type that lacked a surrounding cell layer, but formed large amounts of sparse cartilage-like matrix and comprised morphologically typical chondrocytes. In monolayer, both populations gradually ceased to synthesise cartilage matrix components with the exception of link protein. In suspension, whilst the chondrogenic phenotype per se was preserved, there was, nevertheless, a loss in qualitative synthetic heterogeneity, which exists between surface and deep cells, that was not accompanied by changes in the differential rate of 35S incorporation into proteoglycan. Under these conditions, surface cells that normally do not synthesise keratan sulphate initiated de novo synthesis of this glycosaminoglycan. Consequently, it appears that the observed modulation in synthetic ability of the cell sub-populations is independent of the cluster morphology, which, once established, remains constant throughout the culture period.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Vinod ◽  
Upasana Kachroo ◽  
Solomon Sathishkumar ◽  
P.R.J.V.C Boopalan

AbstractObjectiveCell based therapy optimization is constantly underway since regeneration of genuine hyaline cartilage is under par. Although single source derivation of chondrocytes and chondroprogenitors is advantageous, lack of a characteristic differentiating marker obscures clear identification of either cell type which is essential to create a biological profile and is also required to assess cell type superiority for cartilage repair. This study was the first attempt where characterization was performed on the two cell populations derived from the same human articular cartilage samples.DesignCells obtained from normal/osteoarthritic knee joints were expanded in culture (up to passage 10). Characterization studies was performed using flow cytometry, gene expression was studied using RT-PCR, growth kinetics and tri-lineage differentiation was also studied to construct a better biological profile of chondroprogenitors as well as chondrocytes.Results and conclusionsOur results suggest that sorting based on CD34(-), CD166(+) and CD146(+), instead of isolation using fibronectin adhesion assay (based on CD49e+/CD29+), would yield a population of cells primarily composed of chondroprogenitors which when derived from normal as opposed to osteoarthritic cartilage, could provide translatable results in terms of enhanced chondrogenesis and reduced hypertrophy; both indispensable for the field of cartilage regeneration.


1986 ◽  
Vol 237 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
I K Campbell ◽  
P J Roughley ◽  
J S Mort

Interleukin 1 stimulation of human articular cartilage in organ culture produced the concomitant release of proteoglycan fragments and latent metalloproteinase. The released fragments ranged in size from that of almost intact proteoglycan subunits to the product of limiting digestion generated by the activated metalloproteinase. None of the fragments possessed the ability to interact with hyaluronic acid. Analysis of proteoglycan aggregate digested with the activated metalloproteinase showed that isolated hyaluronic acid-binding regions were produced from the proteoglycan subunits, and that the two higher-Mr link-protein components (Mr 48,000 and 44,000) were converted into the lowest-Mr component (Mr 41,000). Link protein extracted from cartilage under stimulation with interleukin 1 showed a similar conversion. These results suggest that interleukin 1 stimulates the release of latent metalloproteinase from chondrocytes and that a proportion of the enzyme is activated in situ in the cartilage matrix. The mode of action of the activated enzyme is compatible with a role in the changes in proteoglycan structure seen in aging.


2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (21) ◽  
pp. 3813-3822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Dreier ◽  
Shona Wallace ◽  
Susanne Fuchs ◽  
Peter Bruckner ◽  
Susanne Grässel

Cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage are involved in the development of inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. This disease is characterized by cartilage degradation and synovial membrane inflammation with a progressive loss of joint function. The pathological processes are still not well understood. Therefore it would be interesting to develop a suitable experimental in vitro model system for defined studies of monocyte/macrophage and chondrocyte interactions at the molecular level. For that purpose we cocultured chondrocytes from adult human articular cartilage with human monocytes and macrophages for defined periods of time in agarose without addition of serum. We performed zymographic and western blot analysis of culture medium, completed by quantitative RT-PCR of each chondrocyte, monocyte and macrophage RNA, respectively. The reliability of the newly established coculture systems is confirmed by causing a clear decrease of intact aggrecan in the coculture medium plus concurrent appearance of additional smaller fragments and a reduction of chondrocyte aggrecan and collagen II gene expression in the presence of monocytes. In culture medium from cocultures we detected active forms of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 accompanied by induction of gene expression of MMP-1, membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) in chondrocytes. No gene expression of MMP-9 was detectable in chondrocytes, the enzyme was solely expressed in monocytes and macrophages and was downregulated in the presence of chondrocytes. Our results suggest that MMP-9 protein in coculture medium originated from monocytes and macrophages but activation required chondrocyte-derived factors. Because addition of plasmin, a partial activator of pro-MMP-3 and pro-MMP-1, enhanced the activation of pro-MMP-9 and pro-MMP-1 in cocultures but not in monocultured macrophages, and the presence of MMP-3 inhibitor II prevented pro-MMP-9 activation, we assumed a stepwise activation process of pro-MMP-9 that is dependent on the presence of at least MMP-3 and possibly also MMP-1.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simonetta Carluccio ◽  
Daniela Martinelli ◽  
Maria Elisabetta Federica Palamà ◽  
Rui Cruz Pereira ◽  
Roberto Benelli ◽  
...  

Regenerative strategies for human articular cartilage are still challenging despite the presence of resident progenitor cell population. Today, many efforts in the field of regenerative medicine focus on the use of platelet derivatives due to their ability to reactivate endogenous mechanisms supporting tissue repair. While their use in orthopedics continues, mechanisms of action and efficacy need further characterization. We describe that the platelet lysate (PL) is able to activate chondro-progenitor cells in a terminally differentiated cartilage tissue. Primary cultures of human articular chondrocytes (ACs) and cartilage explants were set up from donor hip joint biopsies and were treated in vitro with PL. PL recruited a chondro-progenitors (CPCs)-enriched population from ex vivo cartilage culture, that showed high proliferation rate, clonogenicity and nestin expression. CPCs were positive for in vitro tri-lineage differentiation and formed hyaline cartilage-like tissue in vivo without hypertrophic fate. Moreover, the secretory profile of CPCs was analyzed, together with their migratory capabilities. Some CPC-features were also induced in PL-treated ACs compared to fetal bovine serum (FBS)-control ACs. PL treatment of human articular cartilage activates a stem cell niche responsive to injury. These facts can improve the PL therapeutic efficacy in cartilage applications.


1998 ◽  
Vol 337 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. BOLTON ◽  
Jayesh DUDHIA ◽  
Michael T. BAYLISS

The rates of incorporation of radiolabelled leucine into aggrecan and link protein have been measured in human articular cartilage of different ages. Aggrecan and link protein were purified in the A1 fraction of CsCl gradients as a result of their ability to form high-buoyant-density proteoglycan aggregates with hyaluronic acid. Separation of the aggrecan from the link protein was achieved by Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography. The rates of synthesis of both aggrecan and link protein decreased with age. The age-related decrease in synthesis of aggrecan was paralleled by a decrease in the rate of sulphate incorporation into glycosaminoglycan chains. The synthesis of link protein decreased with age to a greater extent than that of aggrecan such that the ratio of the rates of link protein to aggrecan synthesis decreased from 1 in immature cartilage to 0.2 in mature cartilage. The age-related decrease in link protein synthesis is controlled at least in part by transcriptional or post-trancriptional mechanisms, as shown by the accompanying age-related decrease in link-protein mRNA. The absence of any age-related decrease in aggrecan mRNA suggests that the decrease in synthesis of aggrecan core protein is controlled by a translational mechanism. Measurement of the total tissue content of aggrecan and link protein by radioimmunoassay revealed an age-related increase in the accumulation of these matrix proteins, even though their de novo synthesis was decreasing. This illustrates the importance that the regulation of extracellular post-translational modification also has in controlling the overall turnover of the cartilage matrix.


1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.S. Ingram ◽  
W.M. Edgar

Fundamental to the caries process and its inhibition is an understanding of the composition and structural relationships of dental mineral. These have received greater study in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the processes involved. Fluoride has been the most successful of the anti-caries agents to date, and many studies have concentrated on this ion. The anti-caries action of fluoride has been only partially explained by the early finding that fluoride-treated mineral was less soluble, and this criterion is now less widely accepted. The dissolutive process of caries is inhibited by fluoride, monofluorophosphate, trimetaphosphate, and zinc. However, only the first three of these show anti-caries activity. The presence of fluoride during in vivo and in vitro caries is conducive to the formation of an apparently intact surface zone. Current evidence is that this zone reforms during the caries process, thus acquiring fluoride and having larger crystallites compared with sound enamel. Trimetaphosphate also favors the formation of a surface zone. There is a clear beneficial involvement of fluoride, even at low levels, in the process of lesion remineralization. It is highly probable that this process results from re-growth of residual enamel crystallites rather than de novo precipitation of calcium phosphates. Levels of fluoride found in saliva can interact with dental mineral. Although zinc has been shown to adsorb upon apatite mineral and to restrict subsequent crystal growth, it does not appear to affect the action of fluoride, including remineralization, adversely. This may be due to the fact that the uptake of zinc is reversible. It is unlikely that endothermic processes would lead to changes inhibiting caries. Calorimetric studies may provide information on physicochemical changes and interactions during caries and its prevention.


1995 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 1991-1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kolettas ◽  
L. Buluwela ◽  
M.T. Bayliss ◽  
H.I. Muir

Normal human adult articular chondrocytes were used to determine how the chondrocyte phenotype is modulated by culture conditions following long-term culture. We report here for the first time that human articular chondrocytes have a lifespan in the range of 34–37 population doublings. While chondrocytes cultured as monolayers displayed a fibroblastoid morphology and grew faster, those cultured as suspensions over agarose adopted a round morphology and formed clusters of cells reminiscent of chondrocyte differentiation in intact cartilage, with little or no DNA synthesis. These morphologies were independent of the age of the culture. Despite, these morphological differences, however, chondrocytes expressed markers at mRNA and protein levels characteristic of cartilage: namely, types II and IX collagens and the large aggregating proteoglycans, aggrecan, versican and link protein, but not syndecan, under both culture conditions. However, they also expressed type I collagen alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains. It has been suggested that expression of collagen alpha 1(I) by chondrocytes cultured as monolayers is a marker of the loss of the chondrocyte phenotype. However, we show here, using reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction, that normal fresh intact human articular cartilage expresses collagen alpha 1(I). The data show that following long-term culture human articular chondrocytes retain their differentiated characteristics and that cell shape does not correlate with the expression of the chondrocyte phenotype. It is proposed that loss of the chondrocyte phenotype is marked by the loss of one or more cartilage-specific molecules rather than by the appearance of non-cartilage-specific molecules.


1991 ◽  
Vol 278 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q Nguyen ◽  
J Liu ◽  
P J Roughley ◽  
J S Mort

The link protein components of proteoglycan aggregates in adult human articular cartilage show heterogeneity due to proteolysis. Cleavages near the N-terminus of the intact link proteins, before residues 17, 19 and 24, generate three proteins of slightly diminished size (LP3). Cleavages within the N-terminal disulphide-bonded loop, before residues 66 and 73 of the intact link proteins, generate proteins that yield smaller degradation products upon reduction (LP fragments). In vitro, modified link protein components of a similar size to LP3 can be generated by a variety of proteinases, but of the physiologically relevant enzymes only stromelysin, cathepsin B and cathepsin G have the ability to yield modified link proteins with N-termini identical with those observed in situ. None of the proteolytic agents tested was able to produce LP fragments with N-termini identical with those observed in situ, and the majority of proteinases were not able to cleave within the disulphide-bonded loops. Cathepsin L and hydroxyl radicals can cleave within the N-terminal disulphide-bonded loop, and have the potential of initially opening the loop to allow further proteolytic processing by other agents to generate the native cleavage sites.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11503
Author(s):  
Lukas B. Moser ◽  
Christoph Bauer ◽  
Vivek Jeyakumar ◽  
Eugenia-Paulina Niculescu-Morzsa ◽  
Stefan Nehrer

The current study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of co-administrating local anesthetics (LA) with glucocorticoids (GC) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in vitro. Human articular cartilage was obtained from five patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Chondrocytes were isolated, expanded, and seeded in 24-well plates for experimental testing. LA (lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine) were administered separately and co-administered with the following substances: GC, HA, and GC/HA. Viability was confirmed by microscopic images, flow cytometry, metabolic activity, and live/dead assay. The addition of HA and GC/HA resulted in enhanced attachment and branched appearance of the chondrocytes compared to LA and LA/GC. Metabolic activity was better in all LA co-administered with HA and GC/HA than with GC and only LA. Flow cytometry revealed the lowest cell viability in lidocaine and the highest cell viability in ropivacaine. This finding was also confirmed by live/dead assay. In conclusion, HA supports the effect of GC and reduces chondrotoxic effects of LA in vitro. Thereby, the co-administration of HA to LA and GC offers an alternative less chondrotoxic approach for treating patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee.


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