| Literature DB >> 29334127 |
Behdad Pouran1,2, Parisa R Moshtagh1,2, Vahid Arbabi1,2,3, Jessica Snabel4, Reinout Stoop4, Jeffrey Ruberti5, Jos Malda1,6, Amir A Zadpoor2, Harrie Weinans1,2,7.
Abstract
An important aspect in cartilage ageing is accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) after exposure to sugars. Advanced glycation results in cross-links formation between the collagen fibrils in articular cartilage, hampering their flexibility and making cartilage more brittle. In the current study, we investigate whether collagen cross-linking after exposure to sugars depends on the stretching condition of the collagen fibrils. Healthy equine cartilage specimens were exposed to l-threose sugar and placed in hypo-, iso-, or hyper-osmolal conditions that expanded or shrank the tissue and changed the 3D conformation of collagen fibrils. We applied micro-indentation tests, contrast enhanced micro-computed tomography, biochemical measurement of pentosidine cross-links, and cartilage surface color analysis to assess the effects of advanced glycation cross-linking under these different conditions. Swelling of extracellular matrix due to hypo-osmolality made cartilage less susceptible to advanced glycation, namely, the increase in effective Young's modulus was approximately 80% lower in hypo-osmolality compared to hyper-osmolality and pentosidine content per collagen was 47% lower. These results indicate that healthy levels of glycosaminoglycans not only keep cartilage stiffness at appropriate levels by swelling and pre-stressed collagen fibrils, but also protect collagen fibrils from adverse effects of advanced glycation. These findings highlight the fact that collagen fibrils and therefore cartilage can be protected from further advanced glycation ("ageing") by maintaining the joint environment at sufficiently low osmolality. Understanding of mechanochemistry of collagen fibrils provided here might evoke potential ageing prohibiting strategies against cartilage deterioration.Entities:
Keywords: cartilage ageing; collagen fibrils; glycation; micro-CT; micro-indentation; pentosidine level
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Year: 2018 PMID: 29334127 PMCID: PMC6099510 DOI: 10.1002/jor.23857
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Orthop Res ISSN: 0736-0266 Impact factor: 3.494
Figure 1Schematic of the osmotic deformation, l‐threose incubation and micro‐indentation experiments. Osteochondral plugs are extracted from Equine femoral condyle of 7‐year‐old horse using custom‐made drill bits. Full thickness of cartilage is then removed from the subchondral bone using razor blade and split into four quarter disks. Three disks undergo their corresponding osmotic deformations, whereas one serves as control negative (no incubation with l‐threose). The cartilage specimens are equilibrated at 4°C in a 400 mOsm/kg water bath and therefore are prepared for the initial micro‐indentation tests. Matrix micro‐indentation is performed on each specimen in an area of 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm containing 81 equally spaced indentation points. Thereafter, samples are treated osmotically corresponding to our desired conditions and then l‐threose (50 mM) is added to each solution. Following the l‐threose incubation at 37°C, specimens are equilibrated in 400 mOsm/kg water for an hour before final matrix micro‐indentation. The change of the effective Young's modulus is reported as the result.
Figure 2(A) Indentation was always performed at equilibrium condition to capture the differences due to cross‐linking only. Alterations in the effective Young's modulus following the incubation with l‐threose compared to sample's intrinsic effective Young's modulus before incubation with l‐threose. The change of effective Young's modulus of hyper‐osmolal versus control negative as well as hypo‐osmolal versus hyper‐osmolal was statistically significant (p‐value = 0.005). (B) Effective Young's modulus change (%) before and after incubation in Hypo‐ and Hyper‐osmolality solutions without l‐threose. The term “before” represents the measurement under the normal osmolality and the term “after” represents the measurement again under normal osmolality but after exposing the sample to hyper/hypo‐osmolality. These tests were conducted to check the possible effect of osmolality on the cross‐linking even in the absence of l‐threose.
Figure 3Increase in average grey value indicating the Hexabrix penetration depending on the net negative charges in the ECM. The equilibrium penetration of Hexabrix is inversely related to the amount of matrix fixed charge density.
Figure 4(A) Changes in the color of horse cartilage for negative control, iso‐osmolal, hypo‐osmolal and hyper‐osmolal specimens after 4 days incubation. (B) Cartilage surface color analysis: Brighter color represents higher average pixel intensity, while dark yellow/brown represents lower average pixel intensity (p‐value < 0.005).
Figure 5(A) Amount of pentosidine per collagen (mol/mol) is reported for different osmolality conditions. In average, the hyper‐osmolality led to higher accumulation of pentosidine per collagen molecule (mol/mol) (p‐value > 0.05). The difference was higher between hyper‐osmolality and control negative (p‐value = 0.067). (B) Average pixel value of the cartilage surface versus= pentosidine per collagen molecules (r = −0.63 and p‐value = 0.0027).