A depth-dependent model of the pericellular microenvironment of chondrocytes in articular cartilage |
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Authors: | Sang-Kuy Han Salvatore Federico |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering , The University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada;2. Human Performance Laboratory , The University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada |
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Abstract: | Experimental studies suggest that the magnitude of chondrocyte deformation is much smaller than expected based on the material properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells, and that this result could be explained by a structural unit, the chondron, that is thought to protect chondrocytes from large deformations in situ. We extended an existing numerical model of chondrocyte, ECM and pericellular matrix (PCM) to include depth-dependent structural information. Our results suggest that superficial zone chondrocytes, which lack a pericellular capsule (PC), are relatively stiff, and therefore are protected from excessive deformations, whereas middle and deep zone chondrocytes are softer but are protected by the PC that limits cell deformations in these regions. We conclude that cell deformations sensitively depend on the immediate structural environment of the PCM in a depth-dependent manner, and that the functional stiffness of chondrocytes in situ is much larger than experiments on isolated cells would suggest. |
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Keywords: | articular cartilage microenvironment chondron chondrocyte pericellular matrix pericellular capsule |
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