Akira Tsujii1, Norimasa Nakamura2, Shuji Horibe3. 1. Department of Orthopedics, Yao Municipal Hospital, Yao, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: a-tsujii@umin.ac.jp. 2. Institute for Medical Science in Sports, Osaka Health Science University, Osaka, Japan. 3. Faculty of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefectural University, Habikino, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aging is the most prominent risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis (OA), which affects knees and causes major health burdens. Meniscal dysfunction mostly based on degeneration contributes to the development and progression of knee OA. Meniscal degeneration is caused by various extrinsic factors, such as repetitive trauma or leg malalignment, while meniscal aging is considered as internal changes, such as molecular or cellular changes. Little is known about age-related changes in the meniscus. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize and clarify the understanding of the aged meniscus. METHODS: There are few articles about natural aging in the meniscus, because most reports only demonstrate the effects of OA on the meniscus. We searched PubMed (1948 to November 2016) to identify and summarize all English-language articles evaluating natural aging in the meniscus. RESULTS: There is evidence of compositional change in the meniscus with aging, involving cells, collagens, and proteoglycans. In addition, as recent reports on the natural aging of cartilage have indicated, senescence of the meniscal cells may also lead to disruption of meniscal cells and tissue homeostasis. Due to the low turnover rate of collagen, accumulation of advanced glycation end-products largely contributes to tissue stiffness and vulnerability, and finally results in degenerative changes or tears. Furthermore, environmental factors such as joint fluid secreted by inflamed synovium could also contribute to meniscal tissue deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes induce meniscal tissue vulnerability and finally lead to meniscal dysfunction.
BACKGROUND: Aging is the most prominent risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis (OA), which affects knees and causes major health burdens. Meniscal dysfunction mostly based on degeneration contributes to the development and progression of knee OA. Meniscal degeneration is caused by various extrinsic factors, such as repetitive trauma or leg malalignment, while meniscal aging is considered as internal changes, such as molecular or cellular changes. Little is known about age-related changes in the meniscus. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize and clarify the understanding of the aged meniscus. METHODS: There are few articles about natural aging in the meniscus, because most reports only demonstrate the effects of OA on the meniscus. We searched PubMed (1948 to November 2016) to identify and summarize all English-language articles evaluating natural aging in the meniscus. RESULTS: There is evidence of compositional change in the meniscus with aging, involving cells, collagens, and proteoglycans. In addition, as recent reports on the natural aging of cartilage have indicated, senescence of the meniscal cells may also lead to disruption of meniscal cells and tissue homeostasis. Due to the low turnover rate of collagen, accumulation of advanced glycation end-products largely contributes to tissue stiffness and vulnerability, and finally results in degenerative changes or tears. Furthermore, environmental factors such as joint fluid secreted by inflamed synovium could also contribute to meniscal tissue deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes induce meniscal tissue vulnerability and finally lead to meniscal dysfunction.
Authors: Elena Stocco; Andrea Porzionato; Enrico De Rose; Silvia Barbon; Raffaele De Caro; Veronica Macchi Journal: J Tissue Eng Date: 2022-01-25 Impact factor: 7.813
Authors: Maria G Chiarilli; Andrea Delli Pizzi; Piero Chiacchiaretta; Andrea Prattichizzo; Antonietta Cifaratti; Giovanni Cannataro; Massimo Caulo Journal: In Vivo Date: 2022 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.406
Authors: Xiao-Ning Fu; Hui-Wu Li; Na Du; Xu Liang; Shi-Hao He; Kuang-Jin Guo; Tian-Fang Li Journal: Am J Transl Res Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 4.060
Authors: Kwang Il Lee; Sungwook Choi; Tokio Matsuzaki; Oscar Alvarez-Garcia; Merissa Olmer; Shawn P Grogan; Darryl D D'Lima; Martin K Lotz Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2020-01-24 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Marco Ferroni; Beatrice Belgio; Giuseppe M Peretti; Alessia Di Giancamillo; Federica Boschetti Journal: Bioengineering (Basel) Date: 2021-05-20
Authors: Alexander Otahal; Karina Kramer; Olga Kuten-Pella; Lukas B Moser; Markus Neubauer; Zsombor Lacza; Stefan Nehrer; Andrea De Luna Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-07-05 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Farrah A Monibi; Tania Pannellini; Brett Croen; Miguel Otero; Russell Warren; Scott A Rodeo Journal: J Orthop Res Date: 2021-08-18 Impact factor: 3.102