Collagen of fibrocartilage: a distinctive molecular phenotype in bovine meniscus

Quantitative immunoassays for type II collagen and its cyanogen bromide peptides

This paper describes the development of quantitative immunoassays utilizing mouse monoclonal antibodies which are monospecific to type II collagen. The monoclonal antibodies were characterized and tested extensively for reactivity against a panel of antigens including actin, myoglobin, thyroglobulin, ssDNA, tetanus toxin and different types of collagens including their CnBr-derived peptides. Four monoclonal antibodies having strict monospecificity to type II collagen were selected. Quantitative immunoassays developed with these antibodies can measure either type II collagen in its native conformation or type II collagen-derived cyanogen bromide peptides. The assay conditions such as coating concentration of antigen, monoclonal antibody concentration, second antibody concentration and incubation times were optimized to obtain maximum possible sensitivity. These quantitative immunoassays can be employed to measure type II collagen or type II collagen-derived peptides in low amounts ranging from 20 to 100 ng/ml. The assays can be applied to chondrocyte cultures without interference from serum components or other collagen types.

Meniscal repair by fibrocartilage? An experimental study in the dog

Longitudinal lesions in the avascular part of the dog's meniscus were repaired by implantation of a porous polyurethane. Ingrowing repair tissue was characterized by biochemical and immunological analysis. Histologically, repair tissue initially was composed of fibrous tissue containing type I collagen. After 3 months, fibrocartilaginous tissue developed inside the implants, whereas control defects only showed fibrous repair tissue. Both type I and II collagen, the major collagen types of normal meniscal fibrocartilage, could be detected in this newly formed fibrocartilage. It is concluded that fibrocartilage resembling normal meniscal tissue is formed and that longitudinal lesions can be healed after meniscal repair by implantation of a porous polymer.

Viscoelastic shear properties of the equine medial meniscus

Recent studies have shown that the meniscus is highly anisotropic in tension and that its compressive creep behavior can be modeled using biphasic theory. In this study, an alternative approach is used, where viscoelastic shear properties of the meniscal fibrocartilage are measured to determine the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of this tissue with respect to specimen location and fiber orientation. Medial menisci were obtained from eight skeletally-mature horses. Nine test specimens were taken from the circumferential midsubstance of each meniscus, at three circumferential and three axial positions. The magnitude of the complex shear modulus and the phase angle were determined for each specimen from 100-800 Hz, in 100 Hz increments. Data were gathered shearing parallel and perpendicular to the circumferentially-oriented fibers. The magnitude of the shear modulus and the phase angle were both found to be frequency dependent, anisotropic, and inhomogeneous. The magnitude of the shear modulus increased with frequency, and was greatest in specimens from the posterior superior region, shearing parallel to the fibers. The phase angle decreased slightly with frequency and was lowest in specimens from the midsubstance of the anterior region, shearing perpendicular to the fibers. Our data demonstrated that collagen fibers substantially stiffen the meniscus in the direction of its fibers and that the solid matrix of the meniscus, like articular cartilage, behaves largely as an elastic material.

Osteogenesis imperfecta. The position of substitution for glycine by cysteine in the triple helical domain of the pro alpha 1(I) chains of type I collagen determines the clinical phenotype

Skin fibroblasts grown from three individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) each synthesized a population of normal type I collagen molecules and additional molecules that had one or two alpha 1(I) chains that contained a cysteine residue within the triple-helical domain, a region from which cysteine normally is excluded. The patients had very different phenotypes. One patient with OI type I had a population of alpha 1(I) chains in which glycine at position 94 of the triple helix was substituted by cysteine; a patient with OI type III had a population of alpha 1(I) chains in which glycine at position 526 of the triple helix was substituted by cysteine; and the third patient, with OI type II, had a cysteine for glycine substitution at position 718 of the alpha 1(I) chain. From all three patients, molecules that contained two mutant chains formed interchain, intramolecular disulfide bonds, and although less stable to thermal denaturation than normal molecules, they were more stable than molecules that contained only a single mutant chain. These findings indicate that substitutions for glycine within the triple-helical domain of the alpha 1(I) chain are not invariably lethal and that their phenotypic effect largely depends on the nature of the substituting residue and its location in the chain.

Soluble glycosylated phosphoproteins of cementum

Ethylenediaminetetraacetate and hydrochloric acid (EDTA) (HCl) extracts of cementum were fractionated by molecular sieving, ion exchange chromotography, and reverse phase high precision liquid chromatography (HPLC). Nine fractions were isolated, all of which contained serine phosphate, threonine phosphate, and high concentrations of aspartic acid (asp) and glutamic acid (glu). Five of the fractions obtained by repeated HPLC consisted of a single band by SDS-PAGE; the others contained at least one other minor component. All of the protein bands stained with both Rhodamine B and alcian blue, the latter consistent with analytical determinations that demonstrated that the phosphoprotein component contained a significant amount of carbohydrate, including neuraminic acid.

Material properties of the normal medial bovine meniscus

The intrinsic compressive and tensile properties of normal bovine medial menisci were measured, and the variations in these properties with respect to the structural organization of the tissue and test specimen location were examined. Using a confined compression experiment, the compressive aggregate modulus and permeability of the meniscus were determined. The permeability of the tissue was also compared with the permeability as measured experimentally using a direct permeation experiment. Deep posterior specimens are significantly stiffer in compression than deep anterior and central-anterior specimens, while deep anterior specimens are significantly less stiff than deep posterior and central-posterior specimens. Posterior specimens have a significantly higher average water content. In addition, the permeability of the bovine meniscus was found to be about one-tenth that of bovine articular cartilage. The tensile stiffness of meniscal tissue was determined from constant strain rate uniaxial tension tests. To asses the directional variations in the tensile properties, specimens were obtained from the circumferential and radial orientations. The results indicate that the femoral surface of the meniscus is isotropic in tension, while specimens from within the meniscus are anisotropic--the circumferential specimens are much stiffer than the radial specimens. Furthermore, circumferential posterior specimens from the interior of the meniscus are significantly stiffer than similar anterior specimens. Layer inhomogeneities in the tensile properties with respect to distance from the femoral surface are also present.

Quantitation of hyaluronic acid in tissues by ion-pair reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of oligosaccharide cleavage products

A method for quantifying hyaluronic acid in biological tissues and fluids is described. The assay uses ion-pair HPLC to resolve and quantify the oligosaccharide end products of Streptomyces hyaluronidase digestion. Tissue samples were solubilized by papain, and the nondiffusate after dialysis was exhaustively digested with Streptomyces hyaluronidase. The resulting tetrasaccharide and hexasaccharide cleavage products were resolved by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in the presence of the ion-pairing agent, tetrabutylammonium phosphate. The saccharides were detected and quantified by their absorbance at 232 nm due to the alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxyl group generated by the eliminase reaction. In control experiments 93 +/- 3% of a hyaluronic acid standard so treated was reproducibly recovered as its tetra- and hexasaccharide cleavage products. As little as 0.5 microgram of the oligosaccharides could be quantified with no interference from a vast excess of chondroitin sulfate or other tissue components. The assay was applied to various types of human, bovine, and rabbit cartilage and to samples of other tissues including nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, skin, aorta, cervix, cockscomb, synovial fluid, and vitreous humor. Results on human articular cartilage showed a linear increase in the content of hyaluronate from 0.1 to 0.5% of tissue dry weight between birth and 80 years of age.

Response of immature chicken meniscus to strenuous exercise: biochemical studies of proteoglycan and collagen

Male white Leghorn chickens were exercised on a treadmill at 70-80% of their maximal oxygen consumption starting at 4 weeks and continuing up to 20 weeks of age. The effect of the strenuous exercise regime on the extracellular matrix of menisci was followed through studies of proteoglycans and collagen. Avian menisci contain type I collagen, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, which increase with age in amount and degree of aggregation, and dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, which decrease with age. Five weeks of exercise cause a premature decrease of dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, while the chondroitin sulfate-containing molecules become significantly more aggregated than those of the tissue of age-matched controls. Strenuous exercise also causes a significant decrease in the number of pyridinoline crosslinks per mole of collagen in the menisci of young runners. The exercise-induced changes of proteoglycan and collagen occur only during the period of active growth, and all parameters return to normal when the animals reach skeletal maturity. The early proteoglycan aggregation and dermatan sulfate decrease induced by exercise are probably an adaptation to the increased loading. Although the mechanism by which strenuous exercise reduces or delays the formation of collagen pyridinoline crosslinks in menisci of skeletally immature animals is unknown, their decrease could negatively affect the mechanical properties of the tissue during the period of active growth.

Type VI collagen of the intervertebral disc. Biochemical and electron-microscopic characterization of the native protein

The collagen framework of the intervertebral disc contains two major fibril-forming collagens, types I and II. Smaller amounts of other types of collagen are also present. On examination of the nature and distribution of these minor collagens within bovine disc tissue, type VI collagen was found to be unusually abundant. It accounted for about 20% of the total collagen in calf nucleus pulposus, and about 5% in the annulus fibrosus. It was discovered by serially digesting disc tissue with chondroitin ABC lyase and Streptomyces hyaluronidase that native covalent polymers of type VI collagen could be extracted. Electron micrographs of this material prepared by rotary shadowing revealed the characteristic dimensions of tetramers and double tetramers of type VI molecules, with their central rods and terminal globular domains. Molecular-sieve column chromatography on agarose under non-reducing non-denaturing conditions gave a series of protein peaks with molecular sizes equivalent to the tetramer, double tetramer and higher multimers. On SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis after disulphide cleavage, these fractions of type VI collagen all showed a main band at Mr 140,000 and four lesser bands between Mr 180,000 and 240,000. On electrophoresis without disulphide cleavage in agarose/2.4% polyacrylamide only dimeric (six chains) and tetrameric (12 chains) forms of type VI molecules were present. The ability to extract all the type VI collagen of the tissue in 4 M-guanidinium chloride, and absence of aldehyde-mediated cross-linking residues on direct analysis, showed that, in contrast with most matrix collagens, type VI collagen does not function as a covalently cross-linked structural polymer.

Changes in the types of collagen synthesized during chondrogenesis of the mouse otic capsule

We have investigated the temporal relationship between the morphological differentiation of the mouse otic capsule and the pattern of collagen synthesis by mouse otocyst-mesenchyme complexes labeled in vitro. In 10.5- to 12-day embryos the mesenchyme surrounding the otocyst was loosely organized except for a few lateroventral condensations; explants from these embryos synthesized only small amounts of collagen. Collagen synthesis by whole explants increased by more than 50% between 12 and 13 days concomitant with metachromatic staining of the lateral periotic mesenchyme. Cartilage specific type II collagen was the predominant collagen synthesized by these explants as confirmed by SDS-PAGE, densitometry, CNBr cleavage, and V8 protease digestion. This biochemical expression of the cartilage phenotype preceded morphologic recognition of otic capsular cartilage by almost 2 days. Type II collagen synthesis continued to increase and predominate through Day 16 of gestation by which time the otic labyrinth was surrounded by mature cartilage. The minor cartilage collagen chains, 1 alpha, 2 alpha, and 3 alpha, first appeared on different days of gestation. The 1 alpha, and 3 alpha chains were synthesized by explants from 11-day embryos while the 2 alpha chain appeared during Day 13, just before overt differentiation of mature cartilage. These results suggested that the 1 alpha, 2 alpha, and 3 alpha chains may not form heterotrimers containing all three chains and that synthesis of the 2 alpha chain may be associated with stabilization of the cartilaginous matrix. Comparison of these data with the patterns of collagen production by mutant, diseased, or experimentally manipulated inner ear tissues may provide insights into the molecular basis of chondrogenic tissue interactions.

Distribution of type I, II, III and V in the pepsin solubilized collagens in bovine menisci

The inner one-third (IM) of both lateral and medial menisci resembles hyaline cartilage, both in gross appearance and histological examination, while the outer two-thirds (OM) is fibrocartilaginous in appearance. Collagen was extracted with pepsin, purified with anion and cation exchange column chromatographies and examined by differential salt precipitation, cyanogen bromide-peptide analysis and SDS gel electrophoresis. IM constitutes approximately 10% of the wet weight of whole meniscus, is made up of 70% collagen of which 34% is pepsin soluble. IM is composed of 60% type II and 40% type I collagen. OM is made up of 80% collagen of which 17% is pepsin soluble. The predominant collagen of OM is type I with a trace amount of types III and V (less than 1%).

The effects of mechanical stability on the macromolecules of the connective tissue matrices produced during fracture healing. I. The collagens

The distribution of types I, II, III, V and IX collagens in healing fractures of the rabbit tibia has been demonstrated by immunofluorescent techniques. It has also been shown that the mechanical stability of the healing fracture affects both the distribution and types of the collagens present. The initial fibrous matrix contains types III and V collagens; type I collagen was only located in this matrix if unfixed tissue was used. In mechanically stable fractures, cancellous bone forms over the entire periosteal surface by 5-7 days; type I collagen is laid down within the previous fibrous matrix. The trabeculae are heterogeneous in their collagen content. The cavities contain a matrix of types III and V collagens. Small nodules of cartilage may be present between 7 and 14 days; these contain types II and IX collagens. In mechanically unstable fractures, cancellous bone is initially formed away from the fracture gap. The fibrous tissue over the gap is replaced by cartilage; types II and IX collagens are laid down on the pre-existing fibrous matrix. The cartilage is replaced by endochondral ossification. At the ossification front, type I collagen is found around the chondrocyte lacunae of the spicules of cartilage. The new trabeculae contain a core of cartilage which is surrounded by a bone matrix of types I and V collagens. The fracture gaps are invaded by fibrous tissue, which contain types III and V collagens. this is later replaced by cancellous bone.

Regional biochemical and morphological characteristics of rat knee meniscus

The biochemical and morphological characteristics of the anterior and posterior regions of the rat knee meniscus were studied. The anterior meniscal horn was thicker and contained a lower concentration of DNA, hydroxyproline, and uronic acid as compared to the posterior region. The calcium concentration in the anterior region, however, was significantly greater than the calcium concentration in the posterior horn. Presence of a significant concentration of calcium in the normal rat knee meniscus is unique to rats and uncommon in other mammalian species.

All three chains of 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha collagen from hyaline cartilage resist human collagenase

A previous report that the 3 alpha collagen chain of hyaline cartilage was cleaved by human collagenase could not be confirmed when the 1 alpha 2 alpha 3 alpha collagen fraction was freed of all contaminating type II collagen. All three minor collagen chains, 1 alpha, 2 alpha and 3 alpha, were totally resistant to highly purified collagenases from both rheumatoid synovial and gastric mucosal tissues. This finding and CNBr-peptide patterns suggest that, despite the close homology with alpha 1 (II), the 3 alpha chain is a unique collagen component, possibly combined with 1 alpha and 2 alpha in heterotrimeric molecules. In contrast, a 3 alpha-like component from fibrocartilage was cleaved by collagenase and gave a CNBr-peptide pattern more typical of alpha 1 (II) than of the collagenase-resistant 3 alpha of hyaline cartilage.