白介素1 受体拮抗剂及转化生长因子β1 对兔膝关节骨性关节炎（OA） 的治疗研究

目的:通过关节腔内注射白介素1受体拮抗剂(IL-1Ra)及转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1),观察其对骨性关节炎的治疗作用。方法:16只3-4个月龄新西兰大白兔(雌雄不限)随机分为四组,每组四只,分为正常组,对照组,IL-1Ra组,TGF-β1组,正常组仅打开左膝关节关节腔,剩余三组均给予左膝关节前交叉韧带离断术(anterior cruciate ligament transaction ACLT)。四周后IL-1Ra组给予关节腔内注射IL-1 Ra 5g/ml,TGF-β1组给予关节腔内注射TGF-β1 50mg/ml,每周两次,连续四周,正常组及对照组未采取任何措施。术后八周时采用空气栓塞法处死全部实验动物,取股骨远端长约1cm,固定后切片行细胞形态学观察。结果:大体肉眼观察:对照组股骨远端软骨面色颜色变暗并稍显粗糙,可见少量软骨脱落,其余两组关节软骨大体形态均接近正常。镜下观察:TGF-β1组软骨细胞增生明显,软骨细胞排列较正常软骨细胞排列轻度紊乱。IL-1Ra组软骨细胞增生数量未及TGF-β1组明显,软骨细胞排列也不及TGF-β1组规则。IL-1Ra组及TGF-β1组软骨细胞形态接近正常软骨细胞,基质染色接近正常。两组软骨膜表面光滑,无纤维细胞形成,软骨膜下未见纤维化。对照组软骨细胞数量明显减少且排列紊乱,软骨细胞形态发生改变,可见软骨细胞凋亡,镜下可见软骨细胞核浓缩、裂解,并可见新生软骨形成,突出于正常软骨膜表面,软骨膜表面下方可见血管翳及纤维母细胞形成,出现轻度纤维化。基质染色不均匀且染色较淡。结论:IL-1Ra及TGF-β1关节腔内注射均能有效抑制骨性关节炎关节软骨的退变并增加软骨细胞再生,促进软骨基质合成,延缓骨性关节炎的发病进程。     

Accumulation of procollagen in the degenerative articular cartilage of dogs with osteoarthritis

Collagen metabolism was studied in degenerative articular cartilage of dogs with spontaneous, early onset osteoarthritis. A fraction of collagen which represented about 1.5.% of the total was extracted from cartilage samples with dilute phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 0.2% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Agarose gel filtration in the presence of sodium dodecul sulfate revealed that extracts of degenerative cartilage had about 24% procollagen whereas extracts of normal samples had only 3%. The isolated procollagen fraction was rechromatographed on agarose columns in the presence of mercaptoethanol. This resulted in the identification of a collagen species which migrated between marker β and α collagen chains. The molecular weight of this collagen was estimated to be 150000. Based on incorporation of [¹⁴C]proline, its ratio of hydroxy[¹⁴C]proline to total ¹⁴C was 0.32. Procollagen was not found after limited pepsin digestion (pH 3,4°C, 16 h) of degenerative cartilage samples.Since the total collagen content (μg hydroxyproline/mg cartilage), hydroxy[¹⁴C]proline/mg cartilage, specific radioactivity of hydroxy[¹⁴C]proline (cpm/μg), in the whole cartilage, and the specific radioactivity of hydroxyproline in the extractable collagen fraction were similar for normal and degenerative cartilage we propose that procollagen accumulated in the degenerative cartilage due to a partial defect in conversion of procollagen to collagen.     

Effects of co‐cultures of meniscus cells and articular chondrocytes on PLLA scaffolds

The knee meniscus, a fibrocartilaginous tissue located in the knee joint, is characterized by heterogeneity in extracellular matrix and biomechanical properties. To recreate these properties using a tissue engineering approach, co‐cultures of meniscus cells (MCs) and articular chondrocytes (ACs) were seeded in varying ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) on poly‐L ‐lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds and cultured in serum‐free medium for 4 weeks. Histological, biochemical, and biomechanical tests were used to assess constructs at the end time point. Strong staining for collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) was observed in all groups. Constructs with 100% MCs were positive for collagen I and constructs cultured with 100% ACs were positive for collagen II, while a mixture of collagen I and II was observed in other co‐culture groups. Total collagen and GAG per construct increased as the percentage of ACs increased (27 ± 8 µg, 0% AC to 45 ± 8 µg, 100% ACs for collagen and 12 ± 4 µg, 0% ACs to 40 ± 5 µg, 100% ACs for GAG). Compressive modulus (instantaneous and relaxation modulus) of the constructs was significantly higher in the 100% ACs group (63 ± 12 and 22 ± 9 kPa, respectively) when compared to groups with higher percentage of MCs. No differences in tensile properties were noted among groups. Specific co‐culture ratios were identified mimicking the GAG/DW of the inner (0:100, 25:75, and 50:50) and outer regions (100:0) of the meniscus. Overall, it was demonstrated that co‐culturing MCs and ACs on PLLA scaffolds results in functional tissue engineered meniscus constructs with a spectrum of biochemical and biomechanical properties. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 808–816. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Experimental evaluation of current and novel approximations of articular surfaces of the ankle joint

Kinematics and flexibility properties of both natural and replaced ankle joints are affected by the geometry of the articulating surfaces. Recent studies proposed an original saddle-shaped, skewed, truncated cone with laterally oriented apex, as tibiotalar contact surfaces for ankle prosthesis. The goal of this study was to compare in vitro this novel design with traditional cylindrical or medially centered conic geometries in terms of their ability to replicate the natural ankle joint mechanics. Ten lower limb cadaver specimens underwent a validated process of custom design for the replacement of the natural ankle joint. The process included medical imaging, 3D modeling and printing of implantable sets of artificial articular surfaces based on these three geometries. Kinematics and flexibility of the overall ankle complex, along with the separate ankle and subtalar joints, were measured under cyclic loading. In the neutral and in maximum plantarflexion positions, the range of motion under torques in the three anatomical planes of the three custom artificial surfaces was not significantly different from that of the natural surfaces. In maximum dorsiflexion the difference was significant for all three artificial surfaces at the ankle complex, and only for the cylindrical and medially centered conic geometries at the tibiotalar joint. Natural joint flexibility was restored by the artificial surfaces nearly in all positions. The present study provides experimental support for designing articular surfaces matching the specific morphology of the ankle to be replace, and lays the foundations of the overall process for designing and manufacturing patient-specific total ankle replacements.     

非诱导脂肪干细胞膜片复合PRF修复兔髁状突软骨缺损

目的:探索非诱导ADSCs膜片/PRF复合植入物修复兔子下颌骨髁状突软骨缺损的可行性及效果。方法:选取36只3月龄新西兰雄性大白兔,随机分为3个组即ADSCs膜片/PRF组、PRF组、空白对照组,在3%戊巴比妥钠麻醉下解剖暴露出髁状突关节面并用裂钻分别在双侧髁状突软骨面上制备一3 mm直径、3 mm深的髁突表面软骨缺损区,按实验设计每个分组分别填入相应的植入物。分别在术后4周、8周、12周处死相应时间点的动物采集髁突标本,标本进行大体及组织学检查比较。结果:术后12周时空白对照组的下颌髁状突软骨缺损未能修复,PRF组有少量不规则、不连续的软骨形成,ADSCs膜片/PRF组的修复效果较好,表面软骨接近正常纤维软骨,与周围软骨连续性较好。组织学染色也显示ADSCs膜片/PRF组优于PRF组和空白对照组。结论:证明了ADSCs膜片/PRF复合物修复髁状突软骨缺损的可行性。     

Differential effects of hyperosmotic challenge on interleukin-1-activated pathways in bovine articular cartilage

Chondrocytes in situ experience fluctuations in extracellular osmolarity resulting from mechanical loading. The objective of this study was to determine whether hyperosmotic stress causes or exacerbates interleukin-1 (IL-1)-mediated effects in bovine articular cartilage. Disks of cartilage cut from the articular surface of calf radiocarpal joints were incubated for 24h in the presence or absence of IL-1 in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium adjusted to various osmolalities with sucrose or NaCl. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 levels in the cartilage were examined by Western blot. Culture media were assayed for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), nitrite as an indicator of nitric oxide (NO) production, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan as an indicator of proteoglycan degradation. We report the osmolality-dependent potentiation of COX-2 and PGE(2) production, and the osmolality-dependent inhibition of NO production and proteoglycan degradation in IL-1-activated cartilage. The data demonstrate that osmotic and cytokine signaling interact to differentially modulate IL-1-stimulated effects in calf articular cartilage.     

Fatty acid transport in articular cartilage

Articular cartilage extracellular matrix imposes a significant transport barrier to albumin, the principal carrier of fatty acids. It has not been previously established whether it also influences the transport of fatty acids important for chondrocyte metabolism. Albumin was labelled with rhodamine-maleimide and bound to NBD-labelled lauric acid. Plugs of fresh equine metacarpal-phalangeal cartilage and subchondral bone were incubated with the complex at 4 degrees C for 2-160 h. The fluorophore distribution was quantified using quantitative microscopy in histological sections. The fluorescence intensity of both fluorophores fell steeply over 300 microm below the articular surface and remained relatively uniform through the mid zone but the ratio of lauric acid to albumin was higher than in the incubation medium. The effective diffusivity of lauric acid in the mid zone was (2.2+/-0.7) x 10(-12) m2 s(-1) (n = 33), higher than that of the carrier albumin, suggesting dissociation in the surface layer. Lauric acid accumulated reversibly at the tidemark.     

Up-regulation of matrix in bovine articular cartilage explants by electric fields

Electric stimulation has long been used as a tool to promote connective tissue healing, but the mechanism(s) by which this is accomplished are not yet known. We have previously determined, using mass cultures of fetal bovine articular chondrocytes, a specific set of capacitively coupled electrical stimulation parameters (e.g., duration of stimulation, response time, amplitude, frequency, and duty cycle) that significantly elevated production of collagen and proteoglycan, and up-regulated type II collagen and aggrecan mRNA expression in vitro. In the present study, we applied our best signal parameters (30-min continuous stimulation (100% duty cycle) followed by a pulsed (1h on, 5h off, 4x/day) 50% (1 min on, 1 min off) duty cycle) to cultures of adult bovine articular cartilage explants and obtained similar results. Since the latter system more closely mimics the in vivo chondrocyte environment, these data argue for the utility of electric stimulation for the maintenance of adult cartilage matrix in situ.     

Esophageal cancer related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a marker of articular chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage destruction

With the aim of identifying novel genes regulating cartilage development and degeneration, we screened a cartilage-specific expressed sequence tag database. Esophageal cancer related gene 4 (ECRG4) was selected, based on the criteria of ‘chondrocyte-specific’ and ‘unknown function.’ ECRG4 expression was particularly abundant in chondrocytes and cartilage, compared to various other mouse tissues. ECRG4 is a secreted protein that undergoes cleavage after secretion. The protein is specifically expressed in chondrocytes in a manner dependent on differentiation status. The expression is very low in mesenchymal cells, and dramatically increased during chondrogenic differentiation. The ECRG4 level in differentiated chondrocytes is decreased during hypertrophic maturation, both in vitro and in vivo, and additionally in dedifferentiating chondrocytes induced by interleukin-1β or serial subculture, chondrocytes of human osteoarthritic cartilage and experimental mouse osteoarthritic cartilage. However, ectopic expression or exogenous ECRG4 treatment in a primary culture cell system does not affect chondrogenesis of mesenchymal cells, hypertrophic maturation of chondrocytes or dedifferentiation of differentiated chondrocytes. Additionally, cartilage development and organization of extracellular matrix are not affected in transgenic mice overexpressing ECRG4 in cartilage tissue. However, ectopic expression of ECRG4 reduced proliferation of primary culture chondrocytes. While the underlying mechanisms of ECRG4 expression and specific roles remain to be elucidated in more detail, our results support its function as a marker of differentiated articular chondrocytes and cartilage destruction.