The biology of cartilage. II. Invertebrate cartilages: squid head cartilage

In both light and electron microscopes, head cartilage from the squid Loligo pealii strongly resembles vertebrate hyaline cartilage. The tissue is characterized by the presence of irregularly-shaped cells suspended in an abundant matrix. Cell and matrix contents stain metachromatically with cationic dyes such as toluidin blue. Each cell gives off extensions which ramify via a network of channels throughout the matrix. Thereby, a system of inter-connecting canaliculi is established, with many similarities to the intercanalicular systems seen in vertebrate bone and cartilage tissues. In the electron microscope, the squid cartilage cells are seen to have very abundant endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex material. Mitochondrial transformations involving loss of cristae, the appearance of filaments in the mitochondrial matrix, and figures suggesting budding, also occur. Nuclear pores are numerous and easily detected. The matrix is characterized by the presence of a system of decussating fibrils which form polygonal figures, with granules usually evident at the points of intersection of fibrils. By chemical analysis the tissue contains 3- and 4-hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine. Preliminary wide single x-ray diffractions show a pattern characteristic for unoriented collagens, with 12 Å (intermolecular) and 2.86 Å (helix) reflections.     

The biology of cartilage. I. Invertebrate cartilages: Limulus gill cartilage

The endoskeletal structure supporting the gill-books of Limulus polyphemus has been investigated by means of light and electron microscopy, chemical analysis and x-ray diffraction. This tissue is a cartilage which has significant correspondences with both vertebrate cartilage and plant tissues. Morphologically, the Limulus cartilage resembles certain cellular vertebrate cartilages with relatively scant matrix, and also certain plant parenchyme, collenchyme and sclerenchyme tissues. Of particular interest, was the observation that during cytoplasmic division, a phragmasome-like structure appears between the daughter cells of the dividing gill cartilage cells. This phragmasome-like structure appears to be a precursor of new matrix (cell-wall) formation between the young chondrocytes, in much the same fashion as its counterpart in plant tissues. Perichondrial cells and underlying chondrocytes contain lipid droplets, abundant glycogen and ribosomes, as do corresponding vertebrate cartilage cells. In some of the Limulus cells, glycogen and ribosomes appear to be admixed with lipid, forming aggregates in which all three materials are in intimate intraparticulate relationship. During molting, the number of ribosomes seen in chondrocytes increases. The tissue contains both hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and gives a weak x-ray diffraction pattern.     

Glycosaminoglycan turn-over in articular cartilage.

Glycosaminoglycan turn-over has been studied both in vivo and in vitro, by using sodium [35S]sulphate as a precursor. The in vivo experiments were performed on rabbits and dogs, taking special care to monitor the 35S radioactivity in the serum throughout the experiment and to measure the radioactivity due to unincorporated inorganic [35S]sulphate in cartilage at the end of each experiment, in addition to that due to incorporated sulphate. The inorganic sulphate content of the serum was also determined as well as the distribution coefficient for the inorganic sulphate ion between cartilage and serum. From this information it was possible to calculate accurately the rate of sulphate uptake by cartilage in vivo and hence the turn-over rate. Experiments were then performed in vitro on cartilage from rabbits and dogs and the in vivo and in vitro results were compared. A very good agreement was obtained between the two sets of results. Studies were then carried out under exactly the same in vitro conditions on human articular cartilage and it was thus possible to obtain a turn-over rate for the latter which one could trust was close to the actual in vivo value. The mean half-lives thus obtained varied from 45 days for the young rabbit to 150 days for the adult dog and 800 days for the human femoral head. In human cartilage there were considerable variations in turn-over rate within a single joint as a function of depth below the surface, and between different joints. Thus, while the mean half-life for the human femoral head is 800 days, that for the femoral condyle is 300 days. Cartilage from osteoarthrosic femoral heads did not appear to differ much with respect to sulphate uptake from the normal specimens although the turn-over rates were somewhat higher.     

Matrix vesicles in aging cartilage.

The calcification process that occurs in aging has been studied with the electron microscope in costal and tracheal cartilage of rats and in human costal cartilage. In these tissues, the early stage of the calcification process is induced and regulated by matrix vesicles in the same way as it occurs in epiphyseal cartilage, bone, and dentine. However, the spreading of inorganic substance from vesicles into the surrounding matrix is frequently impaired in aged cartilage, either because of a too low concentration of calcium ions, or because the structure of the cartilage matrix is not suitable for inorganic substance deposition. This shows that matrix vesicles have a calcium affinity and calcium-binding potentiality greater than that of other components of the cartilage matrix. Most matrix vesicles are produced by "Verd?mmerung der Zellen." This degenerative process of the chondrocytes leads also to the formation of pericellular halos consisting of aggregates of amorphous substance and thin filaments. Part of the material that forms these aggregates seems to be produced by disruption of matrix vesicles. Within this disruptive material, thick collagen fibrils can be formed. Moreover, this material seems capable of inducing calcification. These findings suggest that matrix vesicles, by releasing their content into the matrix, can be involved in some way in collagen formation, and that the released material maintains the calcium affinity and calcium-binding property it has within the vesicles.     

Variable nature of cartilage proteoglycans.

Cartilage proteoglycan aggregates are separated from collagen and other non-proteoglycan protein by preparative rate zonal sedimentation under associative conditions. Dissociative rate zonal sedimentation produces sedimented proteoglycan of lower protein content with a corresponding increase in the amount of less sedimentable protein-rich proteoglycan. An extensive number of sequential rate zonal sedimentations discloses that the proceess of disaggregation involves the separation of proteoglycans varying continuously in composition with no apparent discontinuities in distribution to indicate the presence of distinctively different macromolecules. The variations encompass proteoglycans of low protein content containing less than 2% keratan sulfate and proteoglycans with keratan sulfate as the predominant polysaccharide (present in concentrations greater than 2-fold that of the chondroitin sulfate) and more than a 10-fold increase in protein content.     

Studies on cartilage formation. XXII. Investigations of certain oxidative metabolic processes in regenerating articular cartilage

The distal articular surface of the femur was surgically removed in 57 dogs. Succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase activities were assayed on postoperative days 7, 20, 26, 33 and 70 in the regenerating, chondrifying articular surface and in the granulation tissue adhering to the capsule. In the 70-day samples, the cyanide-induced inhibition of oxygen consumption was determined and enzyme histochemical reactions (cytochrome oxidase, monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase, peroxidase and "catalase") were performed. The succinate dehydrogenase activity was the highest in the early postoperative stage in both tissues. This was followed by a definite decrease and a subsequent significant increase in activity when chondrification took place. Measurement of cytochrome oxidase activity could not reveal any convincing result, presumably because of the properties of the tissues studied. The oxygen consumption by the chondrifying articular surface at 70 days was inhibited to about 50% by cyanide, and about 90% inhibition was observed in the tissue adhering to the capsule. The cells of the regenerating articular surface possess cytochrome oxidase and a cyanide- (and sodium azide-) resistant oxidase activity. The enzyme activity of the cartilaginous islets exceeded that of their connective tissue environment. The cytochrome oxidase activity increased in the cells during cartilage differentiation. Presumably, some further cyanide-sensitive and cyanide-resistant oxidases are present in chondroblasts and young chondrocytes.     

Studies on cartilage formation. XVI. Chemical and histochemical assay of lipids in the regenerating articular cartilage.

The articular surface of the distal part of the femur was removed operatively in dogs, and the regenerating articular surface and the GTC were investigated at different stages from the 7th to the 70th postoperative days. During this period cartilage islets arose in the GTAS, while the GTC transformed to connective tissue. At 7 days the lipid content of the tissue was markedly higher than at the other stages studied. Lipids, predominantly triglycerides, were present in extracellular form as well. From the 20th to the 70th day the PL fraction became predominant and, in addition to the pre-existing lecithin, relatively large quantities of lysolecithin, sphingomyelin, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-serine and phosphatidyl-inositol could be gradually demonstrated. Differences were noted in the time of appearance and binding of PLs between the two types of granulation tissue. As time proceeded, the proportion of saturated fatty acids decreased in favour of unsaturated ones. At 70 days, the GTAS contained fatty acids up to C18. About 50% of the fatty acids consisted of C16:1, C18:2 and C18:1. At the same stage, in the GTC C16:1, C18:1 and C20:1 were present in larger amounts. Of the free fatty acids C16:1, C16 and C18 were in predominance in the GTAS and the proportion of fatty acids having more then one double bonds increased with time. In the GTC C16 and C18:1 were in great majority. According to histochemical evidence, the tissues did not contain extracellular lipids from the 20th postoperative day. In the cells, the presence of glycerides, PLs, lipoproteins and cholesterol was demonstrated. In addition, in cartilage precursors of more advanced maturity, a considerable fatty acid positivity was noted.     

Mechanical properties of human tracheal cartilage.

Biomechanical changes in airway cartilage could influence the mechanics of maximal expiratory flow and cough and the degree of shortening of activated airway smooth muscle. We examined the tensile stiffness of small samples of human tracheal cartilage rings in specimens obtained at autopsy from 10 individuals who ranged in age from 17 to 81 yr. The tensile properties of the cartilage were compared with its content of water (%water), glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate equivalents, mg/mg dry wt), and hydroxyproline content (mg hydroxyproline/mg dry weight). The average values for tensile stiffness ranged between 1 and 15 MPa and increased significantly with increasing age [tensile stiffness = 0.19 x (age in yr) + 2.02; r = 0.83, P less than 0.05]. The outermost layer of cartilage was the most stiff in all individuals, and the deeper layers were progressively less stiff. Water content and hydroxyproline content both decreased with increasing age. Thus tensile stiffness correlated inversely with water content and hydroxyproline content [tensile stiffness = -0.83 x (%water) + 16.4; r = 0.82, P less than .05 and tensile stiffness = -342 x (hydroxyproline content) + 25; r = 0.87, P less than 0.05]. Total tissue content of glycosaminoglycans did not change with age, although changes in glycosaminoglycan type and proteoglycan structure with increasing age have been described. We conclude that there are age-related changes in the biomechanical properties and biochemical composition of airway cartilage that could influence airway dynamics.     

Expression and structure of cartilage proteins.

Cartilage has unique physical characteristics attributable to the presence of an unusually high content of proteoglycan embedded in the network of collagen fibrils. Advances in understanding the structure of these components and how their synthesis is regulated have been greatly assisted by the application of molecular biology. For example, an immortalized rat chondrocyte cell line was obtained by infection with a recombinant retrovirus encoding the myc gene product. Several positive and negative DNA regulatory elements of the collagen II gene have been identified that appear to be important in the regulation of this gene in chondrocytes. The complete primary structure of the cartilage proteoglycan (aggrecan) core protein deduced from cDNA sequence displays a complex multidomain structure including numerous repeats of Ser-Gly sequences and sequence homologies with link protein and animal lectins. Such studies advance our understanding of normal morphogenetic events and lay the groundwork for determining the basis of molecular and genetic defects.     

Mechanisms involved in cartilage proteoglycan catabolism.

The increased catabolism of the cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan is a principal pathological process which leads to the degeneration of articular cartilage in arthritic joint diseases. The consequent loss of sulphated glycosaminoglycans, which are intrinsic components of the aggrecan molecule, compromises both the functional and structural integrity of the cartilage matrix and ultimately renders the tissue incapable of resisting the compressive loads applied during joint articulation. Over time, this process leads to irreversible cartilage erosion. In situ degradation of aggrecan is a proteolytic process involving cleavage at specific peptide bonds located within the core protein. The most well characterised enzymatic activities contributing to this process are engendered by zinc-dependent metalloproteinases. In vitro aggrecanolysis by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been widely studied; however, it is now well recognised that the principal proteinases responsible for aggrecan degradation in situ in articular cartilage are the aggrecanases, two recently identified isoforms of which are members of the 'A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs' (ADAMTS) gene family. In this review we have described: (i) the development of monoclonal antibody technologies to identify catabolic neoepitopes on aggrecan degradation products; (ii) the use of such neoepitope antibodies in studies designed to characterise and identify the enzymes responsible for cartilage aggrecan metabolism; (iii) the biochemical properties of soluble cartilage aggrecanase(s) and their differential expression in situ; and (iv) model culture systems for studying cartilage aggrecan catabolism. These studies have clearly established that 'aggrecanase(s)' is primarily responsible for the catabolism and loss of aggrecan from articular cartilage in the early stages of arthritic joint diseases that precede overt collagen catabolism and disruption of the tissue integrity. At later stages, when collagen catabolism is occurring, there is evidence for MMP-mediated degradation of the small proportion of aggrecan remaining in the tissue, but this occurs independently of continued aggrecanase activity. Furthermore, the catabolism of link proteins by MMPs is also initiated when overt collagen degradation is evident.     

Proteinase inhibitors of bovine nasal cartilage.

Extracts from bovine nasal cartilage with 1 M-guanidinium chloride were fractionated by ultrafiltration. Gel chromatography of the low-molecular-weight material resolved three distinct fractions with inhibitory activity against (a) collagenases (22000 mol.wt.), (b) thiol proteinases cathepsin B and papain (13000 mol.wt.), and (c) trypsin and other serine proteinases (7000 mol.wt.).     

The site of cartilage matrix degradation.

1. The metabolism of VLD lipoproteins (very-low-density lipoproteins) was studied in intact isolated beating-heart cells and isolated perfused rat heart from starved animals by using [14C]triacylglycerol fatty acid-labelled VLD lipoprotein prepared from rats previously injected with [1-14C]palmitate. 2. 14C-labelled VLD lipoprotein was metabolized by the isolated perfused heart, but was only minimally metabolized by the heart cells unless an exogenous source of lipoprotein lipase was added. 3. Measurements of lipoprotein lipase at pH 7.4 with the natural substrate 14C-labelled VLD lipoprotein indicated that during collagenase perfusion of the heart the enzyme was released into the perfusate, the activity released being proportional to the concentration of collagenase used. Lipoprotein lipase activity in homogenates of hearts that had been perfused with collagenase showed a corresponding loss of activity. 4. At high perfusate concentrations of collagenase, inactivation of the released lipoprotein lipase occurred. 5. Lipoprotein lipase activity was largely undetectable in the homogenate of the isolated heart cells. 6. It is concluded that the lipoprotein lipase responsible for the hydrolysis of VLD lipoprotein triacylglycerol is predominantly located externally to the heart muscle cells and that its release can be facilitated by perfusion of the heart with bacterial collagenase.     

A cartilage catabolic factor from synovium.

Porcine synovium in organ culture produces a factor that causes chondrocytes to degrade their matrix. A quantitative assay for the factor, for which the cartilage of bovine nasal septum is used, is described. Evidence is presented that the catabolic factor is a protein.