Localization of proteoglycan monomer and link protein in the matrix of bovine articular cartilage: An immunohistochemical study

Identification of link proteins in canine synovial cell cultures and canine articular cartilage

Link proteins are glycoproteins in cartilage that are involved in the stabilization of aggregates of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid. We have identified link proteins in synovial cell cultures form normal canine synovium using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunofluorescence, and immunolocation with specific antibodies by electrophoretic transfer. We have also found evidence for the synthesis of link proteins in these cultures by fluorography of radiolabeled synovial cell extracts. We have identified a 70,000 mol-wt protein in canine synovial cell culture extracts that has antigenic cross-reactivity with the 48,000-mol-wt link protein. Three link proteins were identified in normal canine articular cartilage. These results indicate that link proteins are more widely distributed in connective tissues than previously recognized and may have biological functions other than aggregate stabilization.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to bovine skin proteodermatan sulfate

To study the molecular structure and function of bovine skin proteodermatan sulfate, on a determinant by determinant basis, several monoclonal antibodies to this molecule have been produced and characterized. Based on the results of a preliminary immunogenetic analysis of 4 inbred mouse strains, SJL/J (H-2s) mice were immunized for the fusions. Ten hybridomas were produced and the monoclonal antibodies from four of these were selected for further investigation. Employing an ELISA inhibition assay, none showed any detectable affinity for bovine collagen types I, II, III, or IV, bovine fibronectin or chondroitin or dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycans. Each monoclonal antibody bound the chondroitinase ABC-derived protein core and none was significantly inhibited by proteinase digests of the intact molecule suggesting that the epitope of each contains a protein component. The results of competitive binding ELISA assays and immunoblots of the cyanogen bromide cleavage products of proteodermatan sulfate indicate that the 4 antibodies recognize at least 3 distinct antigenic determinants on this molecule. Immunohistochemical methods located the antigen in the dermis of bovine skin and revealed that a change in proteodermatan sulfate distribution occurs during skin development.

The in vitro cell culture age and cell density of articular chondrocytes alter sulfated-proteoglycan biosynthesis

The effect of cell culture age and concomitant changes in cell density on the biosynthesis of sulfated-proteoglycan by rabbit articular chondrocytes in secondary monolayer culture was studied. Low density (LD, 2 d), middle density (MD, 5-7 d), and high density (HD, 12-15 d) cultures demonstrated changes in cellular morphology and rates of DNA synthesis. DNA synthesis was highest at LD to MD densities, but HD cultures continued to incorporate [3H]-thymidine. LD cultures incorporated 35SO4 into sulfated-proteoglycans at a higher rate than MD or LD cultures. The qualitative nature of the sulfated-proteoglycans synthesized at the different culture ages were analyzed by assessing the distribution of incorporated 35SO4 in associative and dissociative CsCl density gradients and by elution profiles on Sepharose CL-2B. Chondrocytes deposited into the extracellular matrix (cell-associated fraction) 35SO4-labeled proteoglycan aggregate. More aggregated proteoglycan was found in the MD and HD cultures than at LD. A 35SO4-labeled aggregated proteoglycan of smaller hydrodynamic size than that found in the cell-associated fraction was secreted into the culture medium at each culture age. The proteoglycan monomer (A1D1) of young and older cultures had similar hydrodynamic sizes at all cell culture ages and cell densities. The glycosaminoglycan chains of A1D1 were hydrodynamically larger in the younger LD cultures than in the older HD cultures and consisted of only chondroitin 6 and 4 sulfate chains. A small amount of chondroitin 4,6 sulfate was detected, but no keratan sulfate was measured. The A1D2 fractions of young LD cultures contained measurable amounts of dermatan sulfate; no dermatan sulfate was found in older MD or HD cultures. These studies indicated that chondrocytes at LD synthesized a proteoglycan monomer with many of the characteristics of young immature articular cartilage of rabbits. These results also indicated that rapidly dividing chondrocytes were capable of synthesizing proteoglycans which form aggregates with hyaluronic acid. Culture age and cell density appears primarily to modulate the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan types and chain length. Whether or not these glycosaminoglycans are found on the same or different core proteins remains to be determined.

Immunocytochemical localization of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in nervous tissue. I. Adult brain, retina, and peripheral nerve

Monospecific antibodies were prepared to a previously characterized chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of brain and used in conjunction with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique to localize the proteoglycan by immunoelectron microscopy. The proteoglycan was found to be exclusively intracellular in adult cerebellum, cerebrum, brain stem, and spinal cord. Some neurons and astrocytes (including Golgi epithelial cells and Bergmann fibers) showed strong cytoplasmic staining. Although in the central nervous system there was heavy axoplasmic staining of many myelinated and unmyelinated fibers, not all axons stained. Staining was also seen in retinal neurons and glia (ganglion cells, horizontal cells, and Müller cells), but several central nervous tissue elements were consistently unstained, including Purkinje cells, oligodendrocytes, myelin, optic nerve axons, nerve endings, and synaptic vesicles. In sympathetic ganglion and peripheral nerve there was no staining of neuronal cell bodies, axons, myelin, or Schwann cells, but in sciatic nerve the Schwann cell basal lamina was stained, as was the extracellular matrix surrounding collagen fibrils. Staining was also observed in connective tissue surrounding the trachea and in the lacunae of tracheal hyaline cartilage. These findings are consistent with immunochemical studies demonstrating that antibodies to the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan of brain also cross-react to various degrees with certain connective tissue proteoglycans.

Extracellular presence of the lysosomal proteinase cathepsin B in rheumatoid synovium and its activity at neutral pH

The presence of the lysosomal proteinases cathepsin B and cathepsin D at extracellular sites in rheumatoid synovium was demonstrated using the antibody capture technique. Unlike cathepsin D, the cysteine proteinase cathepsin B was commonly detected only at the edges of the synovial explants. Radioimmunoassay and enzyme activity assay of these proteinases demonstrated that both were released from rheumatoid synovial cells in comparable amounts. Since lysosomal cathepsin B is unstable and denatured at physiologic pH and the antibody used only recognizes inactivated enzyme, we believe the selective detection of cathepsin B at the edge of the synovium may be due to the proteinase maintaining a native conformation within the explant, where the pH may be low enough to permit this. By use of a fluorescent substrate in a sensitive, continuous enzyme assay, cathepsin B was shown to express significant activity at neutral and alkaline pH before being inactivated. This and earlier work from this laboratory indicate that cathepsin B secreted by rheumatoid synovial cells may possess extracellular activity in vivo and be involved in the degradation of connective tissue macromolecules.

The pathologic features of massive osseous grafts

The authors studied histologically six of 35 massive osseous or osteochondral transplants that had been inserted following radical resection of musculoskeletal malignancies. The six transplants consisted of three allografts removed because of infection within 12 weeks following insertion and two allografts and one vascularized autograft resected between 52 and 72 weeks because of recurrent tumor. The infected allografts were necrotic and showed extensive osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. Focal areas of cartilage still had chondrocytes. The two non-infected allografts were also necrotic, and host bone had grown into donor bone at the graft--host interface. The vascularized autograft was viable. Articular cartilage was present in only one of the non-infected allografts and was necrotic. Ultrastructurally, allograft cartilage, although necrotic, showed marked destruction of the matrix only when infected. Allograft bone seems to act purely as a strut, inciting little immune response. It is unable to respond to infection and has little osteoinductive ability. Vascularized autograft, in contrast, appeared to contribute to graft union. Articular cartilage can survive transplantation but may become necrotic and undergo marked degeneration when infected. The histologic findings and clinical courses support the conclusion that graft failure within 72 weeks after transplantation is not due to immunologic rejection.

Association of an extracellular protein (chondrocalcin) with the calcification of cartilage in endochondral bone formation

We examined bovine fetal epiphyseal and growth plate cartilages by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy using monospecific antibodies to a newly discovered cartilage-matrix calcium-binding protein that we now call chondrocalcin. Chondrocalcin was evenly distributed at relatively low concentration in resting fetal epiphyseal cartilage. In growth plate cartilage, it was absent from the extracellular matrix in the zone of proliferating chondrocytes but was present in intracellular vacuoles in proliferating, maturing and upper hypertrophic chondrocytes. The protein then disappeared from the lower hypertrophic chondrocytes and appeared in the adjoining extracellular matrix, where it was selectively concentrated in the longitudinal septa in precisely the same location where amorphous mineral was deposited in large amounts as demonstrated by von Kossa staining and electron microscopy. Mineral then spread out from these "nucleation sites" to occupy much of the surrounding matrix. Matrix vesicles were identified in this calcifying matrix but they bore no observable morphological relationship to these major sites of calcification where chondrocalcin was concentrated. Since chondrocalcin is a calcium-binding protein and has a strong affinity for hydroxyapatite, these observations suggest that chondrocalcin may play a fundamental role in the creation of nucleation sites for the calcification of cartilage matrix in endochondral bone formation.

Presence of link protein in cartilage from cmd/cmd (cartilage matrix deficiency) mice

Immunohistochemical and biochemical evidence that the cartilage from cmd/cmd mice, who have an autosomal recessive lethal mutation causing cartilage matrix deficiency, synthesizes link protein nearly at a normal level is provided. Since cartilage-characteristic proteoglycan is not synthesized in this mutant mouse (K. Kimata, H-J. Barrach, K. S. Brown, and J. P. Pennypacker (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 6961-6968), link proteins are apparently not in conventional proteoglycan aggregate. However, the link proteins are functional and able to interact with exogenous cartilage-characteristic proteoglycan monomer and hyaluronic acid to form aggregates.

Localisation of collagen types and fibronectin in cartilage by immunofluorescence

Collagens type I, II, III, IV, and V and the minor cartilage collagens, 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha, C-PS 1, and C-PS 2, were purified, antibodies raised, and then used in immunofluorescence studies on bovine nasal cartilage (BNC). Punctate localisation was seen with the type II antibody. However, pretreatment of sections with hyaluronidase to remove the proteoglycan resulted in diffuse staining over all the section with this antibody. Antibodies to 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha, C-PS 1, and C-PS 2 collagens gave no staining on untreated BNC sections, but after treatment with hyaluronidase all 3 antibodies showed as a diffuse 'halo' round each chondrocyte lacuna. Anti-type I, anti-type III, and anti-type IV collagen antibodies did not stain untreated or enzyme treated BNC. Type V collagen antibodies gave a bright ring in the pericellular region of the lacunae of hyaluronidase-treated BNC. This was unexpected, as we could not detect type V collagen biochemically in the same cartilage. Anti-fibronectin antibodies stained areas distant from the chondrocytes, these areas being distinct from those stained by 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha and C-PS antibodies, suggesting that fibronectin is not associated with these collagens in BNC. These results suggest that different collagen types may have different locations within the cartilage matrix, that proteoglycans may inhibit antibody association with collagen, and that fibronectin is normally not associated with all types of collagen.

Xenografts of articular chondrocytes in the nude mouse

Subcutaneous transplantation of articular chondrocytes isolated enzymatically from immature rabbits and dogs into athymic (nu/nu) mice resulted in the formation of hyaline cartilaginous nodules. Graft rejection was seen when the cells were injected into heterozygous (nu/+) mice. Radiosulfate-labeled proteoglycan extracted from the xenografts had a high buoyant density and was digested by chondroitinase ABC. A monomeric preparation of proteoglycan (A1-D1) contained a small quantity of aggregate as assessed by gel chromatography and gel electrophoresis. Almost no incorporation of 3H-thymidine was found by autoradiography. The matrix did not become calcified over the course of 42 days. The nude mouse system lends itself to testing a variety of problems in the biology of cartilage. These include the redifferentiation of chondrocytes following dedifferentiation in vitro. Species differences were found in this regard. The nodules formed by rabbit articular chondrocytes, grown in monolayer culture for up to 14 days, had a hyaline chondroid character. Dog chondrocytes that had "dedifferentiated" during 14 days of culture prior to transplantation, formed a graft that had a sparse fibrous rather than hyaline matrix.

Localization of antigenic components in proteoglycan aggregate of bovine nasal cartilage

Proteoglycans and glyco(link)proteins are demonstrated in the cartilage matrix using immunohistochemical reactions, ruthenium red staining and concanavalin A-peroxidase procedure. Specific antibodies against proteoglycan monomers revealed a loose matrix structure in the interterritorial area of nasal cartilage. Thin filaments of 49-87 nm in length with a knob on one end corresponding to the protein core of proteoglycan monomers were found in irregular contacts with collagen fibres. Following hyaluronidase digestion the immunohistochemical reactions became more intense, and the matrix structure is suggestive of a network of single filaments which are presumably coupled together longitudinally at the sites of small matrix granules. These matrix granules proved to be glyco(link)proteins of proteoglycan aggregate. Immunohistochemical reactions combined with other methods can reveal an in situ structure of proteoglycan aggregate of hyaline cartilage, which contributes substantially to what has been known about the proteoglycan aggregates on the basis of physico-chemical data and has been verified in monomolecular electron microscopic specimens. The enzymatic treatments of cartilage slices suggest that some of the partially digested proteoglycan monomers are required to be present for the preservation of the structural integrity of cartilage tissue.

The effect of digestion with keratanase (Pseudomonas sp.) on certain histochemical reactions for glycosaminoglycans in cartilaginous and corneal tissues

The effect of digestion with keratanase (Pseudomonas sp.) on the Alcian Blue (AB) pH 1.0, pH 2.5, Aldehyde Fuchsin, high iron diamine, low iron diamine and dialysed iron-ferrocyanide reactions has been tested in the costal and ear cartilage tissues of the rabbit and corneal tissues of the rat and rabbit. The effect of digestion with chondroitinases ABC and AC on the same reactions was examined in the same tissues for comparison. Digestion with keratanase diminished the intensity of all the reactions in the cartilage tissues to a variable extent; however, the diminutions in intensity of the reactions appeared to be less marked as compared with those following digestion with two chondroitinases. In the corneal stroma, all the reactions were markedly reduced in intensity following digestion with keratanase. In contrast, these reactions were only slightly or moderately diminished in intensity by digestion with the two chondroitinases. As glycosamino-glycans are known to be present in cartilage and corneal tissues and the substrate specificities of the three enzymes used are now well established, the present results are consistent with the concept that keratanase specifically degrades and releases keratan sulphates involved in the tissues.

Codistribution of heparan sulfate proteoglycan, laminin, and fibronectin in the extracellular matrix of normal rat kidney cells and their coordinate absence in transformed cells

We used antibodies raised against both a heparan sulfate proteoglycan purified from a mouse sarcoma and a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan purified from a rat yolk sac carcinoma to study the appearance and distribution of proteoglycans in cultured cells. Normal rat kidney cells displayed a fibrillar network of immunoreactive material at the cell surface when stained with antibodies to heparan sulfate proteoglycan, while virally transformed rat kidney cells lacked such a surface network. Antibodies to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan revealed a punctate pattern on the surface of both cell types. The distribution of these two proteoglycans was compared to that of fibronectin by double-labeling immunofluorescent staining. The heparan sulfate proteoglycan was found to codistribute with fibronectin, and fibronectin and laminin gave coincidental stainings. The distribution of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was not coincidental with that of fibronectin. Distinct fibers containing fibronectin but lacking chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan were observed. When the transformed cells were cultured in the presence of sodium butyrate, their morphology changed, and fibronectin, laminin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan appeared at the cell surface in a pattern resembling that of normal cells. These results suggest that fibronectin, laminin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan may be complexed at the cell surface. The proteoglycan may play a central role in assembly of such complexes since heparan sulfate has been shown to interact with both fibronectin and laminin.

Mammalian eyes and associated tissues contain molecules that are immunologically related to cartilage proteoglycan and link protein

Monospecific antibodies to bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan monomer and link protein were used to demonstrate that immunologically related molecules are present in the bovine eye and associated tissues. With immunofluorescence microscopy, reactions for both proteoglycan and link protein were observed in the sclera, the anterior uveal tract, and the endoneurium of the optic nerve of the central nervous system. Antibody to bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan also reacted with some connective tissue sheaths of rectus muscle and the perineurium of the optic nerve of the central nervous system. Antibody to proteoglycan purified from rat brain cross-reacted with bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan, indicating structural similarities between these proteoglycans. ELISA studies and crossed immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated that purified dermatan sulphate proteoglycans isolated from bovine sclera did not react with these antibodies but that the antibody to cartilage proteoglycan reacted with other molecules extracted from sclera. Two molecular species resembling bovine nasal link protein in size and reactivity with antibody were also demonstrated in scleral extracts: the larger molecule was more common. Antibody to link protein reacted with the media of arterial vessels demonstrating the localization of arterial link protein described earlier. Tissues that were unstained for either molecule included the connective tissue stroma of the iris, retina, vitreous body, cornea, and the remainder of the uveal tract. These observations clearly demonstrate that tissues other than cartilage contain molecules that are immunologically related to cartilage-derived proteoglycans and link proteins.

An immunoelectron microscope study of the organization of proteoglycan monomer, link protein, and collagen in the matrix of articular cartilage

Monospecific antibodies to bovine cartilage proteoglycan monomer (PG) and link protein (LP) have been used with immunoperoxidase electron microscopy to study the distribution and organization of these molecules in bovine articular cartilage. The following observations were made: (a) The interterritorial matrix of the deep zone contained discrete interfibrillar particulate staining for PG and LP. This particulate staining, which was linked by faint bands of staining (for PG) or filaments (for LP), was spaced at 75- to 80-nm intervals. On collagen fibrils PG was also detected as particulate staining spaced at regular intervals (72 nm), corresponding to the periodicity of collagen cross-banding. The interfibrillar PG staining was often linked to the fibrillar PG staining by the same bands or filaments. The latter were cleaved by a proteinase-free Streptomyces hyaluronidase with the removal of much of the interfibrillar lattice. Since this enzyme has a specificity for hyaluronic acid, the observations indicate that the lattice contains a backbone of hyaluronic acid (which appeared as banded or filamentous staining) to which is attached LP and PG, the latter collapsing when the tissue is fixed, reacted with antibodies, and prepared for electron microscopy. Thishyaluronic acid is anchored to collagen fibrils at regular intervals where PG is detected on collagen. PG and LP detected by antibody in the interterritorial zones are essentially fully extractible with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. These observations indicated that interfibrillar PG and LP is aggregated with HA in this zone. (b) The remainder of the cartilage matrix had a completely different organization of PG and LP. There was no evidence of a similar latticework based on hyaluronic acid. Instead, smaller more closely packed particulate staining for PG was seen everywhere irregularly distributed over and close to collagen fibrils. LP was almost undetectable in the territorial matrix of the deep zone, as observed previously. In the middle and superficial zones, stronger semiparticulate staining for LP was distributed over collagen fibrils. (c) In the superficial zone, reaction product for PG was distributed evenly on collagen fibrils as diffuse staining and also irregularly as particulate staining. LP was observed as semiparticulate staining over collagen fibrils. The diffuse staining for PG remained after extraction with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. (d) In pericellular matrix, most clearly identified in middle and deep zones, the nature and organization of reaction product for PG and LP were similar to those observed in the territorial matrix, except that LP and PG were more strongly stained and amorphous staining for both components was also observed. (e) This study demonstrates striking regional variations of ultrastructural organization of PG and LP in articular cartilage...

Immunity to homologous type III collagen after partial meniscectomy and sham surgery in rabbits

Cellular immunity to rabbit types I, II, and III collagen was detected after both partial medial meniscectomy and sham operation in rabbits when an in vitro 3H-thymidine incorporation assay was used. The blastogenic responses were commonly directed towards peptides derived from collagens by cyanogen bromide cleavage used to mimic proteinase degradation products. The responses to type III collagen peptides were by far the strongest and were seen in most rabbits that were operated on. We suggest that the responses to types I and II collagen were caused by a cross-reaction with type III collagen peptides. This conclusion was supported by the observation that spleen cells from rabbits directly immunized with homologous type III collagen peptides in Freund's complete adjuvant responded strongly to the immunizing peptides and also cross-reacted with types I and II collagen peptides. Immunity to cartilage proteoglycans was observed primarily in rabbits that had undergone meniscectomy and had severe cartilage degeneration. These results indicated that immunity to collagens will develop merely as a result of joint surgery, whereas immunity to proteoglycans is largely dependent upon an osteoarthritic lesion.

Role of proteoglycans in endochondral ossification: immunofluorescent localization of link protein and proteoglycan monomer in bovine fetal epiphyseal growth plate

The hypothesis is widely held that, in growth plate during endochondral ossification, proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix of the lower hypertrophic zone are degraded by proteases and removed before mineralization, and that this is the mechanism by which a noncalcifiable matrix is transformed into a calcifiable matrix. We have evaluated this hypothesis by examining the immunofluorescent localization and concentrations of proteoglycan monomer core protein and link protein, and the concentrations of glycosaminoglycans demonstrated by safranin 0 staining, in the different zones of the bovine fetal cartilage growth plate. Monospecific antibodies were prepared to proteoglycan monomer core protein and to link protein. The immunofluorescent localization of these species was examined in decalcified and undecalcified sections containing the zones of proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes and in sections containing the zones of proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes and the metaphysis, decalcified in 0.5 M EDTA, pH 7.5, in the presence of protease inhibitors. Proteoglycan monomer core protein and link protein are demonstrable without detectable loss throughout the extracellular matrix of the longitudinal septa of the hypertrophic zone and in the calcified cartilage of the metaphysis. In fact, increased staining is observed in the calcifying cartilage. Contrary to the prevailing hypothesis, our results indicate that there is no net loss of proteoglycans during mineralization and that the proteoglycans become entombed in the calcified cartilage which provides a scaffolding on which osteoid and bone are formed. Proteoglycans appear to persist unaltered in the calcified cartilage core of the trabeculae, until at last the entire trabeculae are eroded from their surfaces and removed by osteoclasts, when the primary spongiosa is replaced by the secondary spongiosa.

Effects of Streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion on the histochemical reactions of proteoglycans in cartilage compared with its effects on certain non-cartilaginous tissues

To test the value of Streptomyces hyaluronidase in carbohydrate histochemistry, the effects of digestion with the enzyme on the staining of cartilage and non-cartilaginous tissues by Alcian Blue (AB) pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, high iron diamine, low iron diamine, aldehyde fuchsin, dialysed iron-ferrocyanide and AB pH 2.5-periods acid-Schiff were studied by light microscopy. The results obtained lead to the conclusion that the Streptomyces enzyme releases not only hyaluronic acid but also chondroitin sulphates and keratan sulphates in cartilage. Since hyaluronic acid is known to be linked to chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans, the enzyme is of limited value in localizing hyaluronic acid in cartilage. However, it is useful in localizing hyaluronic acid in most non-cartilaginous tissues.

Intracellular and extracellular control of the differentiation of cartilage and bone

This paper provides an overview of one aspect of the differentiation of cartilage and bone, namely, the degree of control provided by the extracellular matrix and microenvironment. A brief review of the diagnostic features of cartilage and bone is followed by a discussion of stem cells, emphasizing how to identify them using cytochemical, ultrastructural or experimental procedures. The role of extracellular matrices in the initiation of differentiation is discussed with reference to the initiation of chondrogenesis in the vertebral skeleton of the embryonic chick and of osteogenesis in the mandibular skeletons of embryonic chick and mice. The role of extracellular matrices in the maintenance of the differentiated state is discussed with reference to the ability of chondrocytes to compensate for depletion of their extracellular matrices and to the maintenance of altered differentiated states in achondroplasia. Some emphasis is placed on the notion that skeletal cells can neither be considered nor studied in isolation. The epigenetic approach used in studies of growth and morphogenesis needs to be applied to studies on both the initiation and the maintenance of cytodifferentiation.