A structure-based extracellular matrix expansion mechanism of fibrous tissue growth

A Role for Monosaccharides in Nucleation Inhibition and Transport of Collagen

Background: Collagenous tissues are composed of precisely oriented, tightly packed collagen fibril bundles to confer the maximal strength within the smallest volume. While this compact form benefits mobility, it consequentially restricts vascularity and cell density to a minimally viable level in some regions. These tissues reside in a homeostatic state with an unstable equilibrium, where perturbations to structure or molecular milieu cause descension into a long-term compromised state. Several studies have shown that glycosaminoglycans are key molecules required for healthy tissue maintenance. Our long-term goal is to determine if glycosaminoglycans serve a critical function of stabilizing soluble monomeric collagen in the interstitial fluid that bathes tissue for immediate availability in tissue development and repair in vivo. Materials and Methods: To test glycosaminoglycan and collagen interactions at the most fundamental level, we have explored the effect of the monosaccharides that populate the glycosaminoglycans of the extracellular matrix on collagen assembly kinetics, pre-established matrix stability, and collagen incorporation into a preassembled matrix. Results: Results showed that monosaccharides increased the threshold concentration required for spontaneous polymerization by at least three orders of magnitude. When the monosaccharides were introduced to a pre-existing collagen network, fibrillar dissociation was undetectable. Fluorescent-labeling studies illustrated that in the presence of the saccharide solution, soluble collagen maintains the functional capacity to integrate into a pre-existing network. Conclusion: This work demonstrates a feasible role for glycosaminoglycans in supporting tissue remodeling and highlights the potential importance of age-related deterioration of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis in reference to the homeostasis of collagen-based tissues.

Ultrastructural study of the three-dimensional tenocyte network in newly hatched chick Achilles tendons using serial block face-scanning electron microscopy

The lateral cytoplasmic processes of tenocytes extend to form three-dimensional network surrounding collagen fibers. It is unknown whether connections between two cytoplasmic processes involve overlapping of the processes or merely surface contact. In this study, the two-dimensional and three-dimensional structure of tenocytes in the Achilles tendons of the newly hatched chicks were studied using transmission electron microscopy and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy. Observation of the two-dimensional structures revealed various forms of cellular connections, including connections between the cytoplasmic processes of adjacent tenocytes and between the cytoplasmic process of tenocytes and fibroblasts. Three-dimensional observation showed spike-like cytoplasmic processes extending from one tenocyte that interlocked with cytoplasmic processes from other tenocytes. Cytoplasmic processes from each tenocyte within the chick tendons interlocked to ensure a tight cell-to-cell connection around growing collagen fibers. A cellular network formed by these cytoplasmic processes surrounds each collagen fiber. Cell-cell junctions, which were suggested to be gap junctions, observed at sites of cytoplasmic process overlap most likely represent the major route for communication between tenocytes associated with fibroblasts, enabling vital signals important for maintaining the cell and tendon integrity to be transmitted.

X-ray computed tomography in life sciences

Recent developments within micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging have combined to extend our capacity to image tissue in three (3D) and four (4D) dimensions at micron and sub-micron spatial resolutions, opening the way for virtual histology, live cell imaging, subcellular imaging and correlative microscopy. Pivotal to this has been the development of methods to extend the contrast achievable for soft tissue. Herein, we review the new capabilities within the field of life sciences imaging, and consider how future developments in this field could further benefit the life sciences community.

Models of tendon development and injury

Tendons link muscle to bone and transfer forces necessary for normal movement. Tendon injuries can be debilitating and their intrinsic healing potential is limited. These challenges have motivated the development of model systems to study the factors that regulate tendon formation and tendon injury. Recent advances in understanding of embryonic and postnatal tendon formation have inspired approaches that aimed to mimic key aspects of tendon development. Model systems have also been developed to explore factors that regulate tendon injury and healing. We highlight current model systems that explore developmentally inspired cellular, mechanical, and biochemical factors in tendon formation and tenogenic stem cell differentiation. Next, we discuss in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and computational models of tendon injury that examine how mechanical loading and biochemical factors contribute to tendon pathologies and healing. These tendon development and injury models show promise for identifying the factors guiding tendon formation and tendon pathologies, and will ultimately improve regenerative tissue engineering strategies and clinical outcomes.

Helical fibrillar microstructure of tendon using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy and a mechanical model for interfibrillar load transfer

Tendon's hierarchical structure allows for load transfer between its fibrillar elements at multiple length scales. Tendon microstructure is particularly important, because it includes the cells and their surrounding collagen fibrils, where mechanical interactions can have potentially important physiological and pathological contributions. However, the three-dimensional (3D) microstructure and the mechanisms of load transfer in that length scale are not known. It has been postulated that interfibrillar matrix shear or direct load transfer via the fusion/branching of small fibrils are responsible for load transfer, but the significance of these mechanisms is still unclear. Alternatively, the helical fibrils that occur at the microstructural scale in tendon may also mediate load transfer; however, these structures are not well studied due to the lack of a three-dimensional visualization of tendon microstructure. In this study, we used serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to investigate the 3D microstructure of fibrils in rat tail tendon. We found that tendon fibrils have a complex architecture with many helically wrapped fibrils. We studied the mechanical implications of these helical structures using finite-element modelling and found that frictional contact between helical fibrils can induce load transfer even in the absence of matrix bonding or fibril fusion/branching. This study is significant in that it provides a three-dimensional view of the tendon microstructure and suggests friction between helically wrapped fibrils as a mechanism for load transfer, which is an important aspect of tendon biomechanics.

A distinct transition from cell growth to physiological homeostasis in the tendon

Changes in cell proliferation define transitions from tissue growth to physiological homeostasis. In tendons, a highly organized extracellular matrix undergoes significant postnatal expansion to drive growth, but once formed, it appears to undergo little turnover. However, tendon cell activity during growth and homeostatic maintenance is less well defined. Using complementary methods of genetic H2B-GFP pulse-chase labeling and BrdU incorporation in mice, we show significant postnatal tendon cell proliferation, correlating with longitudinal Achilles tendon growth. Around day 21, there is a transition in cell turnover with a significant decline in proliferation. After this time, we find low amounts of homeostatic tendon cell proliferation from 3 to 20 months. These results demonstrate that tendons harbor significant postnatal mitotic activity, and limited, but detectable activity in adult and aged stages. It also points towards the possibility that the adult tendon harbors resident tendon progenitor populations, which would have important therapeutic implications.

Fibrillin microfibrils and proteases, key integrators of fibrotic pathways

Supramolecular networks composed of multi-domain ECM proteins represent intricate cellular microenvironments which are required to balance tissue homeostasis and direct remodeling. Structural deficiency in ECM proteins results in imbalances in ECM-cell communication resulting often times in fibrotic reactions. To understand how individual components of the ECM integrate communication with the cell surface by presenting growth factors or providing fine-tuned biomechanical properties is mandatory for gaining a better understanding of disease mechanisms in the quest for new therapeutic approaches. Here we provide an overview about what we can learn from inherited connective tissue disorders caused primarily by mutations in fibrillin-1 and binding partners as well as by altered ECM processing leading to defined structural changes and similar functional knock-in mouse models. We will utilize this knowledge to propose new molecular hypotheses which should be tested in future studies.

Comparative multi-scale hierarchical structure of the tail, plantaris, and Achilles tendons in the rat

Rodent tendons are widely used to study human pathologies such as tendinopathy and repair, and to address fundamental physiological questions about development, growth, and remodeling. However, how the gross morphology and multi-scale hierarchical structure of rat tendons, such as the tail, plantaris, and Achilles tendons, compare with that of human tendons are unknown. In addition, there remains disagreement about terminology and definitions. Specifically, the definitions of fascicle and fiber are often dependent on diameter sizes, not their characteristic features, and these definitions impair the ability to compare hierarchical structure across species, where the sizes of the fiber and fascicle may change with animal size and tendon function. Thus, the objective of the study was to select a single species that is commonly used for tendon research (rat) and tendons with varying mechanical functions (tail, plantaris, Achilles) to evaluate the hierarchical structure at multiple length scales using histology, SEM, and confocal imaging. With the exception of the specialized rat tail tendon, we confirmed that in rat tendons there are no fascicles and the fiber is the largest subunit. In addition, we provided a structurally based definition of a fiber as a bundle of collagen fibrils that is surrounded by elongated cells, and this definition was supported by both histologically processed and unprocessed samples. In all rat tendons studied, the fiber diameters were consistently between 10 and 50 μm, and this diameter range appears to be conserved across larger species. Specific recommendations were made highlighting the strengths and limitations of each rat tendon as a research model. Understanding the hierarchical structure of tendon can advance the design and interpretation of experiments and development of tissue-engineered constructs.

On multiscale boundary conditions in the computational homogenization of an RVE of tendon fascicles

Present study provides a numerical investigation on multiscale boundary conditions in the computational homogenization of a representative volume element (RVE) of tendon fascicles. A three-dimensional hexagonal-helicoidal finite element RVE composed of two material phases (collagen fibers and cells) and three finite strain viscoelastic models (collagen fibrils, matrix of fibers and cells) compose the multiscale model. Due to the unusual helical geometry of the RVE, the performance of four multiscale boundary conditions is evaluated: the linear boundary displacements model, the minimally constrained model and two mixed boundary conditions allying characteristics of both, linear and minimal models. Numerical results concerning microscopic kinematic fields and macroscopic stress-strain curves point out that one of the mixed models is able to predict the expected multiscale mechanics of the RVE, presenting sound agreement with experimental facts reported in literature, for example: characteristic non-linear shape of the stress-strain curves; macroscopic energy loss by hysteresis; axial rotation of fascicles observed in tensile tests; collagen fibrils are the main load-bearing components of tendons; cells contribute neither to the stiffness nor to the macroscopic energy loss. Moreover, the multiscale model provides important insights on the micromechanics of tendon fascicles, predicting a non-homogeneous and relevant strain localization on cells, even under physiological macroscopic strain amplitudes.

Mechanical force regulates tendon extracellular matrix organization and tenocyte morphogenesis through TGFbeta signaling

Mechanical forces between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) influence cell shape and function. Tendons are ECM-rich tissues connecting muscles with bones that bear extreme tensional force. Analysis of transgenic zebrafish expressing mCherry driven by the tendon determinant scleraxis reveals that tendon fibroblasts (tenocytes) extend arrays of microtubule-rich projections at the onset of muscle contraction. In the trunk, these form a dense curtain along the myotendinous junctions at somite boundaries, perpendicular to myofibers, suggesting a role as force sensors to control ECM production and tendon strength. Paralysis or destabilization of microtubules reduces projection length and surrounding ECM, both of which are rescued by muscle stimulation. Paralysis also reduces SMAD3 phosphorylation in tenocytes and chemical inhibition of TGFβ signaling shortens tenocyte projections. These results suggest that TGFβ, released in response to force, acts on tenocytes to alter their morphology and ECM production, revealing a feedback mechanism by which tendons adapt to tension.

Physical control of tissue morphogenesis across scales

During embryogenesis, tissues and organs are progressively shaped into their functional morphologies. While the information about tissue and organ shape is encoded genetically, the sculpting of embryonic structures in the 3D space is ultimately a physical process. The control of physical quantities involved in tissue morphogenesis originates at cellular and subcellular scales, but it is their emergent behavior at supracellular scales that guides morphogenetic events. In this review, we highlight the physical quantities that can be spatiotemporally tuned at supracellular scales to sculpt tissues and organs during embryonic development of animal species, and connect them to the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling them.

Polymorphism of stable collagen fibrils

Collagen fibrils are versatile self-assembled structures that provide mechanical integrity within mammalian tissues. The radius of collagen fibrils vary widely depending on experimental conditions in vitro or anatomical location in vivo. Here we explore the variety of thermodynamically stable fibril configurations that are available. We use a liquid crystal model of radial collagen fibril structure with a double-twist director field. Using a numerical relaxation method we show that two dimensionless parameters, the ratio of saddle-splay to twist elastic constants k24/K22 and the ratio of surface tension to chiral strength [small gamma, Greek, tilde] ≡ γ/(K22q), largely specify both the scaled fibril radius and the associated surface twist of equilibrium fibrils. We find that collagen fibrils are the stable phase with respect to the cholesteric phase only when the reduced surface tension is small, [small gamma, Greek, tilde] ⪅ 0.2. Within this stable regime, collagen fibrils can access a wide range of radii and associated surface twists. Remarkably, we find a maximal equilibrium surface twist of 0.33 rad (19°). Our results are compatible with corneal collagen fibrils, and we show how the large surface twist can explain the narrow distribution of corneal fibril radii. Conversely, we show how small surface twist is required for the thermodynamic stability of tendon fibrils in the face of considerable polydispersity of radius.

Live imaging of collagen deposition during skin development and repair in a collagen I - GFP fusion transgenic zebrafish line

Fibrillar collagen is a major component of many tissues but has been difficult to image in vivo using transgenic approaches because of problems associated with establishing cells and organisms that generate GFP-fusion collagens that can polymerise into functional fibrils. Here we have developed and characterised GFP and mCherry collagen-I fusion zebrafish lines with basal epidermal-specific expression. We use these lines to reveal the dynamic nature of collagen-I fibril deposition beneath the developing embryonic epidermis, as well as the repair of this collagen meshwork following wounding. Transmission electron microscope studies show that these transgenic lines faithfully reproduce the collagen ultrastructure present in wild type larval skin. During skin development we show that collagen I is deposited by basal epidermal cells initially in fine filaments that are largely randomly orientated but are subsequently aligned into a cross-hatch, orthogonal sub-epithelial network by embryonic day 4. Following skin wounding, we see that sub-epidermal collagen is re-established in the denuded domain, initially as randomly orientated wisps that subsequently become bonded to the undamaged collagen and aligned in a way that recapitulates developmental deposition of sub-epidermal collagen. Crossing our GFP-collagen line against one with tdTomato marking basal epidermal cell membranes reveals how much more rapidly wound re-epithelialisation occurs compared to the re-deposition of collagen beneath the healed epidermis. By use of other tissue specific drivers it will be possible to establish zebrafish lines to enable live imaging of collagen deposition and its remodelling in various other organs in health and disease.

•

A GFP-collagen I transgenic zebrafish has been generated for live, in vivo, imaging.

•

Collagen fibrils are initially deposited randomly beneath the developing epidermis.

•

This random collagen array subsequently becomes orthogonally aligned.

•

Collagen I deposition following larval wounding recapitulates developmental deposition.

•

Expression of GFP-collagen enables study of collagen dynamics in health and disease.

In tendons, differing physiological requirements lead to functionally distinct nanostructures

The collagen-based tissues of animals are hierarchical structures: even tendon, the simplest collagenous tissue, has seven to eight levels of hierarchy. Tailoring tissue structure to match physiological function can occur at many different levels. We wanted to know if the control of tissue architecture to achieve function extends down to the nanoscale level of the individual, cable-like collagen fibrils. Using tendons from young adult bovine forelimbs, we performed stress-strain experiments on single collagen fibrils extracted from tendons with positional function, and tendons with energy storing function. Collagen fibrils from the two tendon types, which have known differences in intermolecular crosslinking, showed numerous differences in their responses to elongation. Unlike those from positional tendons, fibrils from energy storing tendons showed high strain stiffening and resistance to disruption in both molecular packing and conformation, helping to explain how these high stress tissues withstand millions of loading cycles with little reparative remodeling. Functional differences in load-bearing tissues are accompanied by important differences in nanoscale collagen fibril structure.

Molecular Characteristics of the Equine Periodontal Ligament

The equine periodontal ligament (PDL) is a fibrous connective tissue that covers the intra-alveolar parts of the tooth and anchors it to the alveolar bone-it, therefore, provides a similar function to a tendinous structure. While several studies have considered the formation and structure of tendons, there is insufficient information particularly on the molecular composition of the PDL. Especially for the equine PDL, there is limited knowledge concerning the expression of genes commonly regarded as typical for tendon tissue. In this study, the gene expression of, e.g., collagen type 1 alpha 1 (COL1), collagen type 3 alpha 1 (COL3), scleraxis (SCX), and fibrocartilage markers was examined in the functional mature equine PDL compared with immature and mature equine tendon tissue. PDL samples were obtained from incisor, premolar, and molar teeth from seven adult horses. Additionally, tendon samples were collected from four adult horses and five foals at different sampling locations. Analyses of gene expression were performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Significantly higher expression levels of COL1 and 3 were found in the mature equine PDL in comparison with mature tendon, indicating higher rates of collagen production and turnover in the mature equine PDL. The expression levels of SCX, a specific marker for tenogenic-differentiated cells, were on a similar level in functional mature PDL and in mature tendon tissue. Evidence of chondrogenic metaplasia, often found in tendon entheses or in pressurized regions of tendons, was not found in the mature equine PDL. The obtained results justify further experiments focused on the possible use of equine PDL cells for cell-based regenerative therapies.

Development of overuse tendinopathy: A new descriptive model for the initiation of tendon damage during cyclic loading

Tendinopathic tissue has long been characterized by changes to collagen microstructure. However, initial tendon damage from excessive mechanical loading-a hallmark of tendinopathy development-could occur at the nanoscale level of collagen fibrils. Indeed, it is on this scale that tenocytes interact directly with tendon matrix, and excessive collagen fibril damage not visible at the microscale could trigger a degenerative cascade. In this study, we explored whether initiation of tendon damage during cyclic loading occurs via a longitudinal compression-induced buckling mechanism of collagen fibrils leading to nanoscale kinkband development. Two groups of tendons were cyclically loaded to equivalent peak stresses. In each loading cycle, tendons in one group were unloaded to the zero displacement mark, while those in the other group were unloaded to a nominal level of tension, minimizing the potential for fibril buckling. Tendons that were unloaded to the zero displacement mark ruptured significantly sooner during cyclic loading (1,446 ± 737 vs. 4,069 ± 1,129 cycles), indicating that significant fatigue damage is accrued in the low stress, toe region of the load-deformation response. Ultrastructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy of tendons stopped after 1,000 cycles showed that maintaining a nominal tension slowed the accumulation of kinkbands, supporting a longitudinal compression-induced buckling mechanism as the basis for kinkband development. Based on our results, we present a new descriptive model for the initiation of tendon damage during cyclic loading. The so-called Compression of Unrecovered Elongation or CUE Model may provide useful insight into the development of tendinopathy. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:467-476, 2018.

mTORC1 Signaling is a Critical Regulator of Postnatal Tendon Development

Tendons transmit contractile forces between musculoskeletal tissues. Whereas the biomechanical properties of tendons have been studied extensively, the molecular mechanisms regulating postnatal tendon development are not well understood. Here we examine the role of mTORC1 signaling in postnatal tendon development using mouse genetic approaches. Loss of mTORC1 signaling by removal of Raptor in tendons caused severe tendon defects postnatally, including decreased tendon thickness, indicating that mTORC1 is necessary for postnatal tendon development. By contrast, activation of mTORC1 signaling in tendons increased tendon cell numbers and proliferation. In addition, Tsc1 conditional knockout mice presented severely disorganized collagen fibers and neovascularization in the tendon midsubstance. Interestingly, collagen fibril diameter was significantly reduced in both Raptor and Tsc1 conditional knockout mice, albeit with variations in severity. We performed RNA-seq analysis using Achilles tendons to investigate the molecular changes underlying these tendon phenotypes. Raptor conditional knockout mice showed decreased extracellular matrix (ECM) structure-related gene expression, whereas Tsc1 conditional knockout mice exhibited changes in genes regulating TGF-β/BMP/FGF signaling, as well as in genes controlling ECM structure and disassembly. Collectively, our studies suggest that maintaining physiological levels of mTORC1 signaling is essential for postnatal tendon development and maturation.

Mechanical forces direct stem cell behaviour in development and regeneration

Stem cells and their local microenvironment, or niche, communicate through mechanical cues to regulate cell fate and cell behaviour and to guide developmental processes. During embryonic development, mechanical forces are involved in patterning and organogenesis. The physical environment of pluripotent stem cells regulates their self-renewal and differentiation. Mechanical and physical cues are also important in adult tissues, where adult stem cells require physical interactions with the extracellular matrix to maintain their potency. In vitro, synthetic models of the stem cell niche can be used to precisely control and manipulate the biophysical and biochemical properties of the stem cell microenvironment and to examine how the mode and magnitude of mechanical cues, such as matrix stiffness or applied forces, direct stem cell differentiation and function. Fundamental insights into the mechanobiology of stem cells also inform the design of artificial niches to support stem cells for regenerative therapies.

Morphometric analysis of growing tenocytes in the superficial digital flexor tendon of piglets

The fine structures of different tendons in various animals at different ages have been studied extensively to reveal their arrangement and growth patterns. However, knowledge of the microstructures of the growing tenocytes in the tendons of piglets is still lacking. Thus, we performed the first morphometric analysis to describe the characteristics of tenocytes in the metacarpal superficial digital flexor tendon of 0-, 10- and 20-day-old piglets. In the present study, hydrochloric acid/collagenase digestion was applied to remove the interstitial connective tissue to obtain clear visualization of intact tenocytes and their cytoplasmic processes (Cp). Then, the morphometry of the tenocytes was investigated by optical and electron microscopy. The mean ± SE values of the fascicle area, number of tenocytes/fascicle, cell density, number of Cp/tenocyte, length of Cp, and thickness of Cp were compared among the three age groups. Significant differences (judged at P<0.05) were found in almost all morphometric aspects among the age groups, except for the number of Cp/cell (P=0.545) and thickness of the Cp (P=0.105). A decrease of cell density corresponded with an increase in the length of the Cp, which were extended to connect either with the Cp of the other tenocytes or the surrounding endotendineum. Moreover, an increase of the fascicle area reflected the increase in tendon diameter. The revealed morphometric characteristics are thus the outcome of tendon growth.

Tendons and Ligaments: Connecting Developmental Biology to Musculoskeletal Disease Pathogenesis

Tendons and ligaments provide connections between muscle and bone or bone and bone to enable locomotion. Damage to tendons and ligaments caused by acute or chronic injury or associated with aging and arthritis is a prevalent cause of disability. Improvements in approaches for the treatment of these conditions depend on a better understanding of tendon and ligament development, cell biology, and pathophysiology. This review focuses on recent advances in the discovery of transcription factors that control ligament and tendon cell differentiation, how cell and extracellular matrix homeostasis are altered in disease, and how this new insight can lead to novel therapeutic approaches. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Experimental evaluation of multiscale tendon mechanics

Tendon's primary function is a mechanical link between muscle and bone. The hierarchical structure of tendon and specific compositional constituents are believed to be critical for proper mechanical function. With increased appreciation for tendon importance and the development of various technological advances, this review paper summarizes recent experimental approaches that have been used to study multiscale tendon mechanics, includes an overview of studies that have evaluated the role of specific tissue constituents, and also proposes challenges/opportunities facing tendon study. Tendon has been demonstrated to have specific structural characteristics (e.g., multi-level hierarchy, crimp pattern, helix) and complex mechanical properties (e.g., non-linearity, anisotropy, viscoelasticity). Physical mechanisms including uncrimping, fiber sliding, and collagen reorganization have been shown to govern tendon mechanical responses under both static and dynamic loading. Several tendon constituents with relatively small quantities have been suggested to play a role in its mechanics, although some results are conflicting. Further research should be performed to understand the interplay and communication of tendon mechanical properties across levels of the hierarchical structure, and further show how each of these components contribute to tendon mechanics. The studies summarized and discussed in this review have helped elucidate important aspects of multiscale tendon mechanics, which is a prerequisite for analyzing stress/strain transfer between multiple scales and identifying key principles of mechanotransduction. This information could further facilitate interpreting the functional diversity of tendons from different species, different locations, and even different developmental stages, and then better understand and identify fundamental concepts related to tendon degeneration, disease, and healing. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1353-1365, 2017.

Fell Muir Lecture: Collagen fibril formation in vitro and in vivo

It is a great honour to be awarded the Fell Muir Prize for 2016 by the British Society of Matrix Biology. As recipient of the prize, I am taking the opportunity to write a minireview on collagen fibrillogenesis, which has been the focus of my research for 33 years. This is the process by which triple helical collagen molecules assemble into centimetre-long fibrils in the extracellular matrix of animals. The fibrils appeared a billion years ago at the dawn of multicellular animal life as the primary scaffold for tissue morphogenesis. The fibrils occur in exquisite three-dimensional architectures that match the physical demands of tissues, for example orthogonal lattices in cornea, basket weaves in skin and blood vessels, and parallel bundles in tendon, ligament and nerves. The question of how collagen fibrils are formed was posed at the end of the nineteenth century. Since then, we have learned about the structure of DNA and the peptide bond, understood how plants capture the sun's energy, cloned animals, discovered antibiotics and found ways of editing our genome in the pursuit of new cures for diseases. However, how cells generate tissues from collagen fibrils remains one of the big unsolved mysteries in biology. In this review, I will give a personal account of the topic and highlight some of the approaches that my research group are taking to find new insights.

A transversely isotropic coupled hyperelastic model for the mechanical behavior of tendons

Several constitutive models for fibrous soft tissues used in literature provide a completely isotropic response when fibers are compressed. However, recent experimental investigations confirm the expectation that tendons behave anisotropically during compression tests. Motivated by these facts, the present manuscript presents an appropriate choice of hyperelastic potentials able to predict the coupled mechanical behaviors of tendons under both tensile and compressive loads with a relatively small number of material parameters. The high stiffness of tendons under tensile tests is handled by a transversely isotropic model while the coupled compressive response is modeled by means of a Fung-type potential in terms of Seth-Hill's generalized strain tensors. In present study the logarithm strain measure is used instead of the usually employed Green-Lagrange strain. After a parameter identification procedure, the resulting model showed ability to satisfactorily reproduce the experimental data. Details on the analytical material tangent modulus are provided. Present results will then enhance further researches related to tendon dissipative effects and numerical multiscale investigations.

Fibrillar Collagens

Fibrillar collagens (types I, II, III, V, XI, XXIV and XXVII) constitute a sub-group within the collagen family (of which there are 28 types in humans) whose functions are to provide three-dimensional frameworks for tissues and organs. These networks confer mechanical strength as well as signalling and organizing functions through binding to cellular receptors and other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we describe the structure and assembly of fibrillar collagens, and their procollagen precursors, from the molecular to the tissue level. We show how the structure of the collagen triple-helix is influenced by the amino acid sequence, hydrogen bonding and post-translational modifications, such as prolyl 4-hydroxylation. The numerous steps in the biosynthesis of the fibrillar collagens are reviewed with particular attention to the role of prolyl 3-hydroxylation, collagen chaperones, trimerization of procollagen chains and proteolytic maturation. The multiple steps controlling fibril assembly are then discussed with a focus on the cellular control of this process in vivo. Our current understanding of the molecular packing in collagen fibrils, from different tissues, is then summarized on the basis of data from X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. These results provide structural insights into how collagen fibrils interact with cell receptors, other fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagens and other ECM components, as well as enzymes involved in cross-linking and degradation.

Quantitative phase measurements of tendon collagen fibres

Collagen is the main component of structural mammalian tissues. In tendons, collagen is arranged into fibrils with diameters ranging from 30 nm to 500 nm. These fibrils are further assembled into fibres several micrometers in diameter. Upon excessive thermal or mechanical stress, damage may occur in tendons at all levels of the structural hierarchy. At the fibril level, reported damage includes swelling and the appearance of discrete sites of plastic deformation that are best observed at the nanometer-scale using, for example, scanning electron microscopy. In this paper, digital in-line holographic microscopy is used for quantitative phase imaging to measure both the refractive index and diameter of collagen fibres in a water suspension in the native state, after thermal treatments, and after mechanical overload. Fibres extracted from tendons and subsequently exposed to 70 °C for 5, 15, or 30 minutes show a significant decrease in refractive index and an increase in diameter. A significant increase in refractive index is also observed for fibres extracted from tendons that were subjected to five tensile overload cycles.

N-cadherin adhesive interactions modulate matrix mechanosensing and fate commitment of mesenchymal stem cells

During mesenchymal development, the microenvironment gradually transitions from one that is rich in cell-cell interactions to one that is dominated by cell-ECM (extracellular matrix) interactions. Because these cues cannot readily be decoupled in vitro or in vivo, how they converge to regulate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) mechanosensing is not fully understood. Here, we show that a hyaluronic acid hydrogel system enables, across a physiological range of ECM stiffness, the independent co-presentation of the HAVDI adhesive motif from the EC1 domain of N-cadherin and the RGD adhesive motif from fibronectin. Decoupled presentation of these cues revealed that HAVDI ligation (at constant RGD ligation) reduced the contractile state and thereby nuclear YAP/TAZ localization in MSCs, resulting in altered interpretation of ECM stiffness and subsequent changes in downstream cell proliferation and differentiation. Our findings reveal that, in an evolving developmental context, HAVDI/N-cadherin interactions can alter stem cell perception of the stiffening extracellular microenvironment.

Using the zebrafish to understand tendon development and repair

Tendons are important components of our musculoskeletal system. Injuries to these tissues are very common, resulting from occupational-related injuries, sports-related trauma, and age-related degeneration. Unfortunately, there are few treatment options, and current therapies rarely restore injured tendons to their original function. An improved understanding of the pathways regulating their development and repair would have significant impact in stimulating the formulation of regenerative-based approaches for tendon injury. The zebrafish provides an ideal system in which to perform genetic and chemical screens to identify new pathways involved in tendon biology. Until recently, there had been few descriptions of tendons and ligaments in the zebrafish and their similarity to mammalian tendon tissues. In this chapter, we describe the development of the zebrafish tendon and ligament tissues in the context of their gene expression, structure, and interactions with neighboring musculoskeletal tissues. We highlight the similarities with tendon development in higher vertebrates, showing that the craniofacial tendons and ligaments in zebrafish morphologically, molecularly, and structurally resemble mammalian tendons and ligaments from embryonic to adult stages. We detail methods for fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry as an assay to examine morphological changes in the zebrafish musculoskeleton. Staining assays such as these could provide the foundation for screen-based approaches to identify new regulators of tendon development, morphogenesis, and repair. These discoveries would provide new targets and pathways to study in the context of regenerative medicine-based approaches to improve tendon healing.

Three-dimensional electron microscopy reveals the evolution of glomerular barrier injury

Glomeruli are highly sophisticated filters and glomerular disease is the leading cause of kidney failure. Morphological change in glomerular podocytes and the underlying basement membrane are frequently observed in disease, irrespective of the underlying molecular etiology. Standard electron microscopy techniques have enabled the identification and classification of glomerular diseases based on two-dimensional information, however complex three-dimensional ultrastructural relationships between cells and their extracellular matrix cannot be easily resolved with this approach. We employed serial block face-scanning electron microscopy to investigate Alport syndrome, the commonest monogenic glomerular disease, and compared findings to other genetic mouse models of glomerular disease (Myo1e−/−, Ptpro−/−). These analyses revealed the evolution of basement membrane and cellular defects through the progression of glomerular injury. Specifically we identified sub-podocyte expansions of the basement membrane with both cellular and matrix gene defects and found a corresponding reduction in podocyte foot process number. Furthermore, we discovered novel podocyte protrusions invading into the glomerular basement membrane in disease and these occurred frequently in expanded regions of basement membrane. These findings provide new insights into mechanisms of glomerular barrier dysfunction and suggest that common cell-matrix-adhesion pathways are involved in the progression of disease regardless of the primary insult.

Collagen fibrils in functionally distinct tendons have differing structural responses to tendon rupture and fatigue loading

In this study we investigate relationships between the nanoscale structure of collagen fibrils and the macroscale functional response of collagenous tissues. To do so, we study two functionally distinct classes of tendons, positional tendons and energy storing tendons, using a bovine forelimb model. Molecular-level assessment using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), functional crosslink assessment using hydrothermal isometric tension (HIT) analysis, and ultrastructural assessment using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study undamaged, ruptured, and cyclically loaded samples from the two tendon types. HIT indicated differences in both crosslink type and crosslink density, with flexor tendons having more thermally stable crosslinks than the extensor tendons (higher TFmax of >90 vs. 75.1±2.7°C), and greater total crosslink density than the extensor tendons (higher t1/2 of 11.5±1.9 vs. 3.5±1.0h after NaBH4 treatment). Despite having a lower crosslink density than flexor tendons, extensor tendons were significantly stronger (37.6±8.1 vs. 23.1±7.7MPa) and tougher (14.3±3.6 vs. 6.8±3.4MJ/m(3)). SEM showed that collagen fibrils in the tougher, stronger extensor tendons were able to undergo remarkable levels of plastic deformation in the form of discrete plasticity, while those in the flexor tendons were not able to plastically deform. When cyclically loaded, collagen fibrils in extensor tendons accumulated fatigue damage rapidly in the form of kink bands, while those in flexor tendons did not accumulate significant fatigue damage. The results demonstrate that collagen fibrils in functionally distinct tendons respond differently to mechanical loading, and suggests that fibrillar collagens may be subject to a strength vs. fatigue resistance tradeoff.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Collagen fibrils-nanoscale biological cables-are the fundamental load-bearing elements of all structural human tissues. While all collagen fibrils share common features, such as being composed of a precise quarter-staggered polymeric arrangement of triple-helical collagen molecules, their structure can vary significantly between tissue types, and even between different anatomical structures of the same tissue type. To understand normal function, homeostasis, and disease of collagenous tissues requires detailed knowledge of collagen fibril structure-function. Using anatomically proximate but structurally distinct tendons, we show that collagen fibrils in functionally distinct tendons have differing susceptibilities to damage under both tensile overload and cyclic fatigue loading. Our results suggest that the structure of collagen fibrils may lead to a strength versus fatigue resistance tradeoff, where high strength is gained at the expense of fatigue resistance, and vice versa.

Ring-Mesh Model of Proteoglycan Glycosaminoglycan Chains in Tendon based on Three-dimensional Reconstruction by Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy

Tendons are composed of collagen fibrils and proteoglycan predominantly consisting of decorin. Decorin is located on the d-band of collagen fibrils, and its glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains have been observed between collagen fibrils with transmission electron microscopy. GAG chains have been proposed to interact with each other or with collagen fibrils, but its three-dimensional organization remains unclear. In this report, we used focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy to examine the three-dimensional organization of the GAG chain in the Achilles tendon of mature rats embedded in epoxy resin after staining with Cupromeronic blue, which specifically stains GAG chains. We used 250 serial back-scattered electron images of longitudinal sections with a 10-nm interval for reconstruction. Three-dimensional images revealed that GAG chains form a ring mesh-like structure with each ring surrounding a collagen fibril at the d-band and fusing with adjacent rings to form the planar network. This ring mesh model of GAG chains suggests that more than two GAG chains may interact with each other around collagen fibrils, which could provide new insights into the roles of GAG chains.

Pleiotropic roles of the matricellular protein Sparc in tendon maturation and ageing

Acute and chronic tendinopathies remain clinically challenging and tendons are predisposed to degeneration or injury with age. Despite the high prevalence of tendon disease in the elderly, our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the age-dependent deterioration of tendon function remains very limited. Here, we show that Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (Sparc) expression significantly decreases in healthy-aged mouse Achilles tendons. Loss of Sparc results in tendon collagen fibrillogenesis defects and Sparc−/− tendons are less able to withstand force in comparison with their respective wild type counterparts. On the cellular level, Sparc-null and healthy-aged tendon-derived cells exhibited a more contracted phenotype and an altered actin cytoskeleton. Additionally, an elevated expression of the adipogenic marker genes PPARγ and Cebpα with a concomitant increase in lipid deposits in aged and Sparc−/− tendons was observed. In summary, we propose that Sparc levels in tendons are critical for proper collagen fibril maturation and its age-related decrease, together with a change in ECM properties favors lipid accretion in tendons.

Uniform spatial distribution of collagen fibril radii within tendon implies local activation of pC-collagen at individual fibrils

Collagen fibril cross-sectional radii show no systematic variation between the interior and the periphery of fibril bundles, indicating an effectively constant rate of collagen incorporation into fibrils throughout the bundle. Such spatially homogeneous incorporation constrains the extracellular diffusion of collagen precursors from sources at the bundle boundary to sinks at the growing fibrils. With a coarse-grained diffusion equation we determine stringent bounds, using parameters extracted from published experimental measurements of tendon development. From the lack of new fibril formation after birth, we further require that the concentration of diffusing precursors stays below the critical concentration for fibril nucleation. We find that the combination of the diffusive bound, which requires larger concentrations to ensure homogeneous fibril radii, and lack of nucleation, which requires lower concentrations, is only marginally consistent with fully processed collagen using conservative bounds. More realistic bounds may leave no consistent concentrations. Therefore, we propose that unprocessed pC-collagen diffuses from the bundle periphery followed by local C-proteinase activity and subsequent collagen incorporation at each fibril. We suggest that C-proteinase is localized within bundles, at fibril surfaces, during radial fibrillar growth. The much greater critical concentration of pC-collagen, as compared to fully processed collagen, then provides broad consistency between homogeneous fibril radii and the lack of fibril nucleation during fibril growth.

Collagens VI and XII form complexes mediating osteoblast interactions during osteogenesis

Bone formation is precisely regulated by cell-cell communication in osteoblasts. We have previously demonstrated that genetic deletion of Col6a1 or Col12a1 impairs osteoblast connections and/or communication in mice, resulting in bone mass reduction and bone fragility. Mutations of the genes encoding collagen VI cause Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD) and Bethlem myopathy (BM), which have overlapping phenotypes involving connective tissue and muscle. Recent studies have identified COL12A1 gene mutations in patients with UCMD- and BM-like disorders harboring no COL6 mutations, indicating the shared functions of these collagens in connective tissue homeostasis. The purpose of this investigation has been to test the hypothesis that collagens VI and XII have coordinate regulatory role(s) during bone formation. We analyzed the localization of collagens VI and XII relative to primary osteoblasts during osteogenesis. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that collagens VI and XII colocalized in matrix bridges between adjacent cells during periods when osteoblasts were establishing cell-cell connections. Quantification of cells harboring collagen bridges demonstrated that matrix bridges were composed of collagens VI and XII but not collagen I. Interestingly, matrix bridge formation was impaired in osteoblasts deficient in either Col6a1 or Col12a1, suggesting that both collagens were indispensable for matrix bridge formation. These data demonstrate, for the first time, a functional relationship between collagens VI and XII during osteogenesis and indicate that a complex containing collagens VI and XII is essential for the formation of a communicating cellular network during bone formation.

Matrix metalloproteinase 14 is required for fibrous tissue expansion

Type I collagen-containing fibrils are major structural components of the extracellular matrix of vertebrate tissues, especially tendon, but how they are formed is not fully understood. MMP14 is a potent pericellular collagenase that can cleave type I collagen in vitro. In this study, we show that tendon development is arrested in Scleraxis-Cre::Mmp14 lox/lox mice that are unable to release collagen fibrils from plasma membrane fibripositors. In contrast to its role in collagen turnover in adult tissue, MMP14 promotes embryonic tissue formation by releasing collagen fibrils from the cell surface. Notably, the tendons grow to normal size and collagen fibril release from fibripositors occurs in Col-r/r mice that have a mutated collagen-I that is uncleavable by MMPs. Furthermore, fibronectin (not collagen-I) accumulates in the tendons of Mmp14-null mice. We propose a model for cell-regulated collagen fibril assembly during tendon development in which MMP14 cleaves a molecular bridge tethering collagen fibrils to the plasma membrane of fibripositors.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09345.001

A scaffold of proteins called the extracellular matrix surrounds each of the cells that make up our organs and tissues. This matrix, which contains fibres made of proteins called collagens, provides the physical support needed to hold organs and tissues together. This support is especially important in the tendons—a tough tissue that connects the muscle to bone—and other ‘connective’ tissues.

An enzyme called MMP14 is able to cut through chains of collagen proteins. It belongs to a family of proteins that are involved in breaking down the extracellular matrix to enable cells to divide and for other important processes in cells. Some cancer cells exploit MMP14 to enable them to leave their tissue of origin and spread around the body. Therefore, when researchers bred mutant mice that lacked MMP14, they expected to see excessive growth of collagen fibres in the connective tissues of the mice. However, these mice actually have extremely thin, fragile connective tissue and die soon after birth.

Earlier in 2015, a group of researchers demonstrated that the first stage of tendon development in mice involves the formation of collagen fibres, which are attached to structures that project from tendon cells called fibripositors. Then, soon after the mice are born, the fibripositors disappear and the collagen fibres are released into the extracellular matrix where they grow longer and become thicker. Now, Taylor, Yeung, Kalson et al.—including some of the researchers from the earlier work—have used electron microscopy to investigate how a lack of MMP14 leads to fragile tendons in young mice.

The experiments show that MMP14 plays a crucial role in the first stage of tendon development by detaching the collagen fibres from the fibripositors. MMP14 also promotes the formation of new collagen fibres; the tendons of mutant mice that lack MMP14 have fewer collagen fibres than normal mice. Further experiments revealed that the release of collagen fibres from fibripositors does not require MMP14 to cleave the chains of collagen proteins themselves. Instead, it appears that MMP14 cleaves another protein that is associated with the fibres, called fibronectin.

Taylor, Yeung, Kalson et al.'s findings show that MMP14 plays an important role in the development of tendons by releasing collagen fibres from fibripositors and promoting the formation of new fibres. The next challenge is to find out how MMP14 regulates the number of collagen fibres in mature tendons and other tissues, and how defects in this enzyme can lead to cancer and other diseases.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09345.002

Chick tendon fibroblast transcriptome and shape depend on whether the cell has made its own collagen matrix

Collagen- and fibrin-based gels are extensively used to study cell behaviour. However, 2D–3D and collagen-fibrin comparisons of gene expression, cell shape and mechanotransduction, with an in vivo reference, have not been reported. Here we compared chick tendon fibroblasts (CTFs) at three stages of embryonic development with CTFs cultured in collagen- or fibrin-based tissue engineered constructs (TECs). CTFs synthesised their own collagen matrix in fibrin-based TECs and better recapitulated the gene expression, collagen fibril alignment and cell shape seen in vivo. In contrast, cells in 3D collagen gels exhibited a 2D-like morphology and expressed fewer of the genes expressed in vivo. Analysis of YAP/TAZ target genes showed that collagen gels desensitise mechanotransduction pathways. In conclusion, gene expression and cell shape are similar on plastic and 3D collagen whereas cells in 3D fibrin have a shape and transcriptome better resembling the in vivo situation. Implications for wound healing are discussed.

Regenerative biology of tendon: mechanisms for renewal and repair

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying tissue turnover and repair are essential towards addressing pathologies in aging, injury and disease. Each tissue has distinct means of maintaining homeostasis and healing after injury. For some, resident stem cell populations mediate both of these processes. These stem cells, by definition, are self renewing and give rise to all the differentiated cells of that tissue. However, not all organs fit with this traditional stem cell model of regeneration, and some do not appear to harbor somatic stem or progenitor cells capable of multilineage in vivo reconstitution. Despite recent progress in tendon progenitor cell research, our current knowledge of the mechanisms regulating tendon cell homeostasis and injury response is limited. Understanding the role of resident tendon cell populations is of great importance for regenerative medicine based approaches to tendon injuries and disease. The goal of this review is to bring to light our current knowledge regarding tendon progenitor cells and their role in tissue maintenance and repair. We will focus on pressing questions in the field and the new tools, including model systems, available to address them.