Matrix vesicles of bovine fetal cartilage: metabolic potential and solubilization with detergents.

The ATPase of matrix vesicles is not stimulated by calcium ions, nor do the vesicles have any capacity to metabolize glucose. ADPase of high activity is also present; thus vesicles cannot be a component of the conventional ATP cycle, in which energy is stored by phosphorylating ADP and released by hydrolyzing the resultant ATP. These results do not support speculations that matrix vesicles might function by concentrating calcium via an energy-dependent ion transport system such as those found in the plasma membrane and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Matrix vesicles' alkaline phosphatase can be solubilized by treatment with certain detergents: sodium dodecyl sulfate (12 mM and 16 mM), cetylpyridinium chloride (14mM), and deoxycholic acid (DOC, 14 MM). The first two detergents denature the enzyme during storage whereas DOC does not. DOC will also solubilize ATPase and inorganic pyrophosphatase. Yields of the three enzymes are 85-95%. Dialysis of a DOC digest of vesicles removes DOC and 43% of protein, and also causes much of the alkaline phosphatase to become particulate once again.     

Matrix vesicles in atherosclerotic calcification

Matrix vesicles, small extracellular membranous structures, are known to be the initial loci of calcification of cartilage, bone, and dentin. Calcification is an important complication of atherosclerosis. Using histologic, ultrastructural, and cytochemical techniques, the present study has demonstrated that matrix vesicle-like structures are involved in the calcification of atherosclerotic lesions, as well as in arterial medial calcification. In aortas from autopsied humans and from rabbits and chickens on atherogenic diets, the matrix vesicles appear to be derived from intimal and medial cellular components, mainly smooth muscle cells.     

Fluorophores from aging human articular cartilage.

Human articular cartilages of various ages were digested with collagenase, and the fluorescence of the digests was measured as a function of age. At acidic pH, all collagenase-treated fractions were found to contain two main fluorophores with fluorescence maxima at 395 and 385 nm (excitation at 295 and 335 nm, respectively). Each fluorophore was isolated from the hydrolysate and its structure was deduced from spectral and chemical data. The 395/295 nm fluorophore was identified as pyridinoline, which is one of the non-reducible cross-linkages in collagen. The 385/335 nm fluorophore was identical to pentosidine, which was isolated from human dura mater and characterized by Sell and Monnier in 1989. Our results showed that the amount of pentosidine per collagen in human articular cartilage increases linearly with age (r = 0.929, p less than 0.005), while the amount of pyridinoline per collagen remained constant and was not correlated with age (r = 0.20). On the other hand, the amount of pentosidine per pyridinoline increased exponentially during life (r2 = 0.839, p less than 0.05).     

Articular cartilage vesicles contain RNA

Small membrane-bound extracellular organelles known as articular cartilage matrix vesicles (ACVs) participate in pathologic mineralization in osteoarthritic articular cartilage. ACVs are also present in normal cartilage, although they have no known functions other than mineralization. Recently, RNA was identified in extracellular vesicles derived from mast cells, suggesting that such vesicles might carry coding information from cell to cell. We found that ACVs from normal porcine and human articular cartilage and primary chondrocyte conditioned media contained 1 μg RNA/80 μg ACV protein. No DNA could be detected. RT-PCR of ACV RNA demonstrated the presence of full length mRNAs for factor XIIIA, type II transglutaminase, collagen II, aggrecan, ANKH and GAPDH. RNA in intact ACVs was resistant to RNase, despite the fact that ACV preparations contained measurable levels of active RNases. Significantly, radiolabeled RNA in ACVs could be transferred to unlabeled chondrocytes by co-incubation and produced changes in levels of chondrocyte enzymes and proteins. The demonstration that ACVs contain mRNAs suggests that they may function to shuttle genetic information between articular cells and indicate novel functions for these structures in articular cartilage.     

Matrix development in self-assembly of articular cartilage

Background

Articular cartilage is a highly functional tissue which covers the ends of long bones and serves to ensure proper joint movement. A tissue engineering approach that recapitulates the developmental characteristics of articular cartilage can be used to examine the maturation and degeneration of cartilage and produce fully functional neotissue replacements for diseased tissue.

Methodology/Principal Findings

This study examined the development of articular cartilage neotissue within a self-assembling process in two phases. In the first phase, articular cartilage constructs were examined at 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days immunohistochemically, histologically, and through biochemical analysis for total collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Based on statistical changes in GAG and collagen levels, four time points from the first phase (7, 14, 28, and 56 days) were chosen to carry into the second phase, where the constructs were studied in terms of their mechanical characteristics, relative amounts of collagen types II and VI, and specific GAG types (chondroitin 4-sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and hyaluronan). Collagen type VI was present in initial abundance and then localized to a pericellular distribution at 4 wks. N-cadherin activity also spiked at early stages of neotissue development, suggesting that self-assembly is mediated through a minimization of free energy. The percentage of collagen type II to total collagen significantly increased over time, while the proportion of collagen type VI to total collagen decreased between 1 and 2 wks. The chondroitin 6- to 4- sulfate ratio decreased steadily during construct maturation. In addition, the compressive properties reached a plateau and tensile characteristics peaked at 4 wks.

Conclusions/Significance

The indices of cartilage formation examined in this study suggest that tissue maturation in self-assembled articular cartilage mirrors known developmental processes for native tissue. In terms of tissue engineering, it is suggested that exogenous stimulation may be necessary after 4 wks to further augment the functionality of developing constructs.     

Matrix free Ca2+ in isolated chromaffin vesicles

Isolated secretory vesicles from bovine adrenal medulla contain 80 nmol of Ca2+ and 25 nmol of Mg2+ per milligram of protein. As determined with a Ca2+-selective electrode, a further accumulation of about 160 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein can be attained upon addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. During this process protons are released from the vesicles, in exchange for Ca2+ ions, as indicated by the decrease of the pH in the incubation medium or the release of 9-aminoacridine previously taken up by the vesicles. Intravesicular Mg2+ is not released from the vesicles by A23187, as determined by atomic emission spectroscopy. In the presence of NH4Cl, which causes the collapse of the secretory vesicle transmembrane proton gradient (delta pH), Ca2+ uptake decreases. Under these conditions A23187-mediated influx of Ca2+ and efflux of H+ cease at Ca2+ concentrations of about 4 microM. Below this concentration Ca2+ is even released from the vesicles. At the Ca2+ concentration at which no net flux of ions occurs the intravesicular matrix free Ca2+ equals the extravesicular free Ca2+. In the absence of NH4Cl we determined an intravesicular pH of 6.2. Under these conditions the Ca2+ influx ceases around 0.15 microM. From this value and the known pH across the vesicular membrane an intravesicular matrix free Ca2+ concentration of about 24 microM was calculated. This is within the same order of magnitude as the concentration of free Ca2+ in the vesicles determined in the presence of NH4Cl.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Possible role of extracellular matrix vesicles in initial calcification of healing rachitic cartilage.

Fluid (20-30 nl) was aspirated by a modified renal micropuncture technique from vitamin D-, phosphate-deficient rats. The fluid revealed a mineral forming agent which could be sedimented at 140,000 X g for 8 hours, was resistant to acid demineralization, but was destroyed by heating, freezing and thawing as well as sonication, and blocked by phospholipase A at 10-5 M but not at 10-7 M. Electron microscopic study of the fluid sediment revealed images consistent with matrix vesicles. These data are consonant with the view that matrix vesicles, their remnants, or closely associated structures comprised the mineral forming agent.     

Analysis of matrix vesicles and their role in the calcification of epiphyseal cartilage.

Extracellular matrix vesicles, which have been shown to be associated with initial calcification of cartilage, were isolated, characterized, and studied with 45calcium isotope to determine whether they could form mineral in vitro. It was found that the isolated matrix vesicles contain a phosphatase, active at neutral pH, which has a very wide specificity and will hydrolyze a variety of nucleotide triphosphates, diphosphates, monophosphates, and other phosphate-containing substrate and metabolites. Acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, and cathepsin D were found to be in the cell fractions, in lysosomes; these enzymes are not present in matrix vesicles and this is additional evidence for the difference between matrix vesicles and lysosomes. Matrix vesicles were found to take up 45Ca even in the presence of low levels of Ca and P1 and also to facilitate precipitation of hydroxylapatite when incubated under physiological conditions in the presence of ATP and other phosphate-containing substrates. Systematic electron probe analysis of a septum of epiphyseal cartilage indicates that matrix vesicles gradually accumulate calcium and then phosphorus and thus facilitate the advance of the calcification front. Adjoinging nonvesicular matrix in the hypertrophic zone, cell cytoplasm, and cell processes had very low levels of calcium and phosphorus in a region where matrix vesicles showed high levels of these elements. New concepts are put forward that take accounts of these findings which provide a better understanding of the sequence of mineralization in growth cartilage.     

Matrix proteins bound to associatively prepared proteoglycans from bovine cartilage.

Proteoglycans were extracted from bovine tracheal cartilage by high-speed homogenization, the use of dissociative solvents being avoided. The homogenate was fractionated by gel chromatography, sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and ion-exchange chromatography. A previously unrecognized protein, cartilage matrix protein, was identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. It cofractionated with the proteoglycans in all systems, indicating an interaction. The cartilage matrix protein-proteoglycan complex was dissociated by treatment with 4M-guanidinium chloride. The complex again formed when the guanidine was removed. The cartilage matrix protein has a mol.wt. of more than 200000. On reduction it yields subunits with a mol.wt. of approx. 60000.     

The aging alterations of the arytenoid cartilage

The aging processes of the arytaenoid cartilage were described. We inspected 58 arytaenoid cartilage at the age of 0 to 91 years. The arytaenoid cartilage consists mainly of hyaline cartilage, whereas the apex, colliculus and the vocal processus consist of elastic cartilage. The cartilage of larynx exhibits changes concerning the cells and the intercellular substance. Chondrocytes show fatty degeneration, the cell density decreased. During the age intercellular substance shows the following changes: albuminoid degeneration, partly loss of intercellular substance with exhibition of well visible collagen fibers, calcification and ossification. Intercellular substance shows basophilic reaction up to the 4th decennium, later the reaction becomes more and more eosinophilic.     

Articular cartilage and changes in Arthritis: Matrix degradation

While many proteases in articular cartilage have been described, current studies indicate that members of two families of metalloproteases – MMPs and the ADAMTSs – are responsible for the degradation of the major components of this tissue. Collagenases (MMPs) make the first cleavage in triple-helical collagen, allowing its further degradation by other proteases. Aggrecanases (ADAMTSs), in conjunction with other MMPs, degrade aggrecan, a component of the proteoglycan aggregate. Anti-neoepitope antibodies that recognize the cleavage products of collagen and aggrecan generated by these enzymes are now available and are being used to detect the sites of action and to quantitate degradation products.     

Characterization of a Pi transport system in cartilage matrix vesicles. Potential role in the calcification process.

The mechanisms by which calcium (Ca2+) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) accumulate into matrix vesicles (MV) have not been elucidated. In the present study the characteristics of Pi uptake into MV isolated from mildly rachitic chicken growth plate cartilage have been investigated. The results indicate that Pi accumulates into MV mainly via a Na(+)-dependent Pi transport system. In the absence of NaCl in the extravesicular medium, Pi uptake was a nonsaturable process. In the presence of 150 mM NaCl, the initial rate of Pi uptake was 4.38 +/- 1.02-fold higher than with 150 mM choline chloride (mean +/- S.E., n = 8, p less than 0.005). Other cations showed partial activity to drive Pi into MV as compared to Na+:Li+ (64.4%) greater than K+ (39.8%) greater than choline (39.0%) greater than tetramethylammonium (30.0%) greater than N-methylglucamine (26.3%). Na(+)-dependent Pi transport activity displayed saturability towards increasing extra-vesicular concentrations of Na+ and Pi. The apparent Km for Pi was 0.68 +/- 0.16 mM. The Na+ concentration producing half-maximum Pi transport activity was 106.2 +/- 11.0 mM. Kinetic analysis suggests that Na+ interacts with the Pi carrier with a stoichiometry of more than one Na+ ion with one Pi molecule. In MV isolated from normal chicken growth plate cartilage, this Na(+)-dependent Pi transport system was barely expressed. In contrast to the effect on Pi uptake by MV, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was not changed when NaCl was substituted for choline chloride in the assay medium. In addition to this observation which suggests that this enzyme is not related to the Pi transport activity described in this study, levamisole, which inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity did not affect the Na(+)-dependent uptake of Pi. Both arsenate and phosphonoformic acid, two inhibitors of the epithelial Na(+)-dependent Pi transport systems, were active inhibitors of the Na(+)-dependent Pi uptake by MV with a higher potency for phosphonoformic acid. Associated with the expression of a facilitated Na(+)-coupled Pi transport in MV, in vitro calcification assessed by 45Ca2+ uptake also showed a marked dependence on extravesicular sodium. This relationship was markedly attenuated in MV isolated from normal chicken growth plate cartilage expressing a weak Na(+)-facilitated Pi transport activity. In conclusion, a saturable Na(+)-dependent Pi carrier has been characterized which facilitates Pi transport in MV. Its potential role for Ca-Pi accumulation into MV and subsequent development of vesicular calcification followed by mineralization of the osteogenic matrix is proposed and remains to be further investigated.     

Stereological studies of aging changes in epiglottal cartilage cells]

The topic of these investigations were the aging changes of stereological parameters of the cells in human epiglottal cartilage. 42 sagittally cut epiglottides of all ages were available. By means of a drawing mirror in total 8937 cells had been drawn from the slide on paper and then measured. In detail we determined the volume fraction of cartilagous cells in the total cartilage volume, the complete cell surface area of the cartilage, the surface-to-volume ratio of the cartilagous cells, the numerical density of the cells and their volumes. The results are as follows: 1. The volume fraction of cartilagous cells in the total cartilage volume decreases from birth to senium continuously and, with the exception of a more rapid decline during the first decade, linear too. 2. The collective cell surface area per constant test volume of cartilage shows an exponential decline during life. 3. The surface-to-volume ratio of the cartilagous cells decreases very intensively during the first decades, from the 5th decade it little ranges again. 4. In the same way the numerical density of cells intensively decreases up to the 5th decade, but later on it ranges again. 5. The several volumes of cells show from the age of the newborn up to the 40th year a linear steep rise and afterwards, up to senium, an unequivocal decline. 6. The sizes of the cartilagous cells are not normally distributed, on the contrary, in young slides more than in older ones, one size class very predominates.     

Evidence linking chondrocyte lipid peroxidation to cartilage matrix protein degradation. Possible role in cartilage aging and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in both cartilage aging and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. We developed an in vitro model to study the role of chondrocyte-derived ROS in cartilage matrix protein degradation. Matrix proteins in cultured primary articular chondrocytes were labeled with [(3)H]proline, and the washed cell matrix was returned to a serum-free balanced salt solution. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide resulted in oxidative damage to the cell matrix as established by monitoring the release of labeled material into the medium. Calcium ionophore treatment of chondrocytes, in a dose-dependent manner, significantly enhanced the release of labeled matrix, suggesting a chondrocyte-dependent mechanism of matrix degradation. Antioxidant enzymes such as catalase or superoxide dismutase did not influence matrix release by the calcium ionophore-activated chondrocytes. However, vitamin E, at physiological concentrations, significantly diminished the release of labeled matrix by activated chondrocytes. The fact that vitamin E is a chain-breaking antioxidant indicates that the mechanism of matrix degradation and release is mediated by the lipid peroxidation process. Lipid peroxidation was measured in chondrocytes loaded with cis-parinaric acid. Both resting and activated cells showed constitutive and enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation activity, which were significantly reduced in the presence of vitamin E. In an immunoblot analysis, malondialdehyde and hydroxynonenal adducts were observed in chondrocyte-matrix extracts, and the amount of adducts increased with calcium ionophore treatment. Furthermore, vitamin E diminished aldehyde-protein adduct formation in activated extracts, which suggests that vitamin E has an antioxidant role in preventing protein oxidation. This study provides in vitro evidence linking chondrocyte lipid peroxidation to cartilage matrix protein (collagen) oxidation and degradation and suggests that vitamin E has a preventive role. These observations indicate that chondrocyte lipid peroxidation may have a role in the pathogenesis of cartilage aging and osteoarthritis.