The effect of aging and osteoarthritis on the mature and senescent cross-links of collagen in human meniscus.

Pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline are mature cross-links maintaining the structure of collagen, whereas pentosidine is a senescent cross-link that increases with age. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging and osteoarthritis on these cross-links in human meniscus. Meniscus was obtained from 21 patients with osteoarthritis and 26 nonarthritic trauma patients. Hydroxyproline was measured in hydrolyzed samples. The amount of pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, and pentosidine cross-links measured in the hydrolyzed samples using a fluorescent high-performance liquid chromatography technique was expressed per hydroxyproline. There was no correlation between hydroxyproline, pyridinoline, or deoxypyridinoline and age, but pentosidine exponentially increased with age. There was no difference in hydroxyproline nor cross-links between the peripheral and central portions of the meniscus. There was no significant difference in hydroxyproline between osteoarthritis and nonarthritis. Pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline in osteoarthritis were significantly lower than in nonarthritis. Pentosidine in osteoarthritis was somewhat higher than that in nonarthritis, but not significantly so. The increase of pentosidine with aging may relate to age-related degeneration of meniscus. In osteoarthritis, the decrease of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline may cause and progress the degeneration of meniscus attributable to osteoarthritis.