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Batool S, Roth BJ, Xia Y. Depth-Dependent Strain Model (1D) for Anisotropic Fibrils in Articular Cartilage. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:238. [PMID: 38204091 PMCID: PMC10779946 DOI: 10.3390/ma17010238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical response of articular cartilage (AC) under compression is anisotropic and depth-dependent. AC is osmotically active, and its intrinsic osmotic swelling pressure is balanced by its collagen fibril network. This mechanism requires the collagen fibers to be under a state of tensile pre-strain. A simple mathematical model is used to explain the depth-dependent strain calculations observed in articular cartilage under 1D axial compression (perpendicular to the articular surface). The collagen fibers are under pre-strain, influenced by proteoglycan concentration (fixed charged density, FCD) and collagen stiffness against swelling stress. The stiffness is introduced in our model as an anisotropic modulus that varies with fibril orientation through tissue depth. The collagen fibers are stiffer to stretching parallel to their length than perpendicular to it; when combined with depth-varying FCD, the model successfully predicts how tissue strains decrease with depth during compression. In summary, this model highlights that the mechanical properties of cartilage depend not only on proteoglycan concentration but also on the intrinsic properties of the pre-strained collagen network. These properties are essential for the proper functioning of articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bradley J. Roth
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA; (S.B.); (Y.X.)
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2
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Jia Y, Le H, Wang X, Zhang J, Liu Y, Ding J, Zheng C, Chang F. Double-edged role of mechanical stimuli and underlying mechanisms in cartilage tissue engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1271762. [PMID: 38053849 PMCID: PMC10694366 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1271762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical stimuli regulate the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and the homeostasis of chondrocytes, thus affecting implant success in cartilage tissue engineering. The mechanical microenvironment plays fundamental roles in the maturation and maintenance of natural articular cartilage, and the progression of osteoarthritis Hence, cartilage tissue engineering attempts to mimic this environment in vivo to obtain implants that enable a superior regeneration process. However, the specific type of mechanical loading, its optimal regime, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still under investigation. First, this review delineates the composition and structure of articular cartilage, indicating that the morphology of chondrocytes and components of the extracellular matrix differ from each other to resist forces in three top-to-bottom overlapping zones. Moreover, results from research experiments and clinical trials focusing on the effect of compression, fluid shear stress, hydrostatic pressure, and osmotic pressure are presented and critically evaluated. As a key direction, the latest advances in mechanisms involved in the transduction of external mechanical signals into biological signals are discussed. These mechanical signals are sensed by receptors in the cell membrane, such as primary cilia, integrins, and ion channels, which next activate downstream pathways. Finally, biomaterials with various modifications to mimic the mechanical properties of natural cartilage and the self-designed bioreactors for experiment in vitro are outlined. An improved understanding of biomechanically driven cartilage tissue engineering and the underlying mechanisms is expected to lead to efficient articular cartilage repair for cartilage degeneration and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Jia
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
- The Second Bethune Clinical Medical College of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Hanxiang Le
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
- The Fourth Treatment Area of Trauma Hip Joint Surgery Department, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xianggang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Yan Liu
- The Second Bethune Clinical Medical College of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Jiacheng Ding
- The Second Bethune Clinical Medical College of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Changjun Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
| | - Fei Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China
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3
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Sonkodi B, Csorba A, Marsovszky L, Balog A, Kopper B, Nagy ZZ, Resch MD. Evidence of Disruption in Neural Regeneration in Dry Eye Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087514. [PMID: 37108693 PMCID: PMC10140938 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study was to analyze abnormal neural regeneration activity in the cornea through means of confocal microscopy in rheumatoid arthritis patients with concomitant dry eye disease. We examined 40 rheumatoid arthritis patients with variable severity and 44 volunteer age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. We found that all examined parameters were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in rheumatoid arthritis patients as opposed to the control samples: namely, the number of fibers, the total length of the nerves, the number of branch points on the main fibers and the total nerve-fiber area. We examined further variables, such as age, sex and the duration of rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly, we could not find a correlation between the above variables and abnormal neural structural changes in the cornea. We interpreted these findings via implementing our hypotheses. Correspondingly, one neuroimmunological link between dry eye and rheumatoid arthritis could be through the chronic Piezo2 channelopathy-induced K2P-TASK1 signaling axis. This could accelerate neuroimmune-induced sensitization on the spinal level in this autoimmune disease, with Langerhans-cell activation in the cornea and theorized downregulated Piezo1 channels in these cells. Even more importantly, suggested principal primary-damage-associated corneal keratocyte activation could be accompanied by upregulation of Piezo1. Both activation processes on the periphery would skew the plasticity of the Th17/Treg ratio, resulting in Th17/Treg imbalance in dry eye, secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. Hence, chronic somatosensory-terminal Piezo2 channelopathy-induced impaired Piezo2-Piezo1 crosstalk could result in a mixed picture of disrupted functional regeneration but upregulated morphological regeneration activity of these somatosensory axons in the cornea, providing the demonstrated abnormal neural corneal morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Sonkodi
- Department of Health Sciences and Sport Medicine, Hungarian University of Sports Science, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anita Csorba
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - László Marsovszky
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Balog
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Health Center, University of Szeged, 6725 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bence Kopper
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Hungarian University of Sports Science, 1123 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Zsolt Nagy
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós D Resch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
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4
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Momot KI. Hydrated Collagen: Where Physical Chemistry, Medical Imaging, and Bioengineering Meet. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:10305-10316. [PMID: 36473185 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is well-known that collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body; however, what is not often appreciated is its fascinating physical chemistry and molecular physics. In this Perspective, we aim to expose some of the physicochemical phenomena associated with the hydration of collagen and to examine the role collagen's hydration water plays in determining its biological function as well as applications ranging from radiology to bioengineering. The main focus is on the Magic-Angle Effect, a phenomenon observed in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of anisotropic collagenous tissues such as articular cartilage and tendon. While the effect has been known in NMR and MRI for decades, its exact molecular mechanism remains a topic of debate and continuing research in scientific literature. We survey some of the latest research aiming to develop a comprehensive molecular-level model of the Magic-Angle Effect. We also touch on other fields where understanding of collagen hydration is important, particularly nanomechanics and mechanobiology, biomaterials, and piezoelectric sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin I Momot
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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5
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Badar W, Ali H, Brooker ON, Newham E, Snow T, Terrill NJ, Tozzi G, Fratzl P, Knight MM, Gupta HS. Collagen pre-strain discontinuity at the bone—Cartilage interface. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273832. [PMID: 36108273 PMCID: PMC9477506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bone-cartilage unit (BCU) is a universal feature in diarthrodial joints, which is mechanically-graded and subjected to shear and compressive strains. Changes in the BCU have been linked to osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Here we report existence of a physiological internal strain gradient (pre-strain) across the BCU at the ultrastructural scale of the extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents, specifically the collagen fibril. We use X-ray scattering that probes changes in the axial periodicity of fibril-level D-stagger of tropocollagen molecules in the matrix fibrils, as a measure of microscopic pre-strain. We find that mineralized collagen nanofibrils in the calcified plate are in tensile pre-strain relative to the underlying trabecular bone. This behaviour contrasts with the previously accepted notion that fibrillar pre-strain (or D-stagger) in collagenous tissues always reduces with mineralization, via reduced hydration and associated swelling pressure. Within the calcified part of the BCU, a finer-scale gradient in pre-strain (0.6% increase over ~50μm) is observed. The increased fibrillar pre-strain is linked to prior research reporting large tissue-level residual strains under compression. The findings may have biomechanical adaptative significance: higher in-built molecular level resilience/damage resistance to physiological compression, and disruption of the molecular-level pre-strains during remodelling of the bone-cartilage interface may be potential factors in osteoarthritis-based degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqas Badar
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Husna Ali
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Olivia N. Brooker
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elis Newham
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Snow
- Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source, Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Terrill
- Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Diamond Light Source, Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Gianluca Tozzi
- School of Engineering, University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of Biomaterials, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam Wissenschaftspark, Golm, Germany
| | - Martin M. Knight
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Himadri S. Gupta
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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6
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Liu F, Hu K, Al-Qudsy LH, Wu LQ, Wang Z, Xu HY, Yang H, Yang PF. Aging exacerbates the morphological and mechanical response of mineralized collagen fibrils in murine cortical bone to disuse. Acta Biomater 2022; 152:345-354. [PMID: 36087867 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.08.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mineralized collagen fibrils (MCFs) are the fundamental building blocks of bone tissue and contribute significantly to the mechanical behavior of bone. However, it is still largely unknown how the collagen network in bone responds to aging and the disuse normally accompanying it. Utilizing atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation and Raman spectroscopy, age-related alterations in the microstructure and mechanical properties of murine cortical tibia at multiple scales were investigated in this study. The potential difference in the responses of bone to disuse at different ages was studied. The results indicated that the age- and disuse-related alterations in bone initiate from MCFs in the bone matrix. The D-periodic spacing, radial elastic modulus of a single MCF and the mineral-to-matrix ratio on the cortical bone surface were larger in aged mice than in adult mice. Disuse, on the other hand, mainly has a major influence on aged mice, particularly on the morphology and mechanical properties of MCFs, but it only has modest effects on adult bone. These findings revealed insights into the morphological and mechanical adaptation of mineralized collagen fibrils in murine cortical bone to aging and disuse. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bone is a complex structured composite material consisting of an interwoven framework of collagen fibrils reinforced by mineral particles and embedded in an extrafibrillar mineralized matrix. Utilizing atomic force microscopy, nanoindentation and Raman spectroscopy, this study suggests that the effects of aging, as well as the accompanying disuse, on the morphology and mechanical properties of bone initiate from the mineralized collagen fibril level. More interestingly, the MCF in the bone of aged mice seems to be more sensitive to disuse than that in adult mice. These findings significantly further the current understanding of the adaptation process of bone to aging at the mineralized collagen fibril level and provide direct insights into the physiological response of bone to aging and the abnormal mechanical environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa Liu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ke Hu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Luban H Al-Qudsy
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lan-Qin Wu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hui-Yun Xu
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng-Fei Yang
- Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
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7
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Mann AS, Smith AM, Saltzherr JO, Gopinath A, Andresen Eguiluz RC. Glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins influence the elastic response of synovial fluid nanofilms on model oxide surfaces. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 213:112407. [PMID: 35180655 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Synovial fluid (SF) is the natural lubricant found in articulated joints, providing unique cartilage surface protecting films under confinement and relative motion. While it is known that the synergistic interactions of the macromolecular constituents provide its unique load-bearing and tribological performance, it is not fully understood how two of the main constituents, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and glycoproteins, regulate the formation and mechanics of robust load-bearing films. Here, we present evidence that the load-bearing capabilities, rather than the tribological performance, of the formed SF films depend strongly on its components' integrity. For this purpose, we used a combination of enzymatic treatments, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), and the surface forces apparatus (SFA) to characterize the formation and load-bearing capabilities of SF films on model oxide (i.e., silicates) surfaces. We find that, upon cleavage of proteins, the elasticity of the films is reduced and that cleaving GAGs results in irreversible (plastic) molecular re-arrangements of the film constituents when subjected to confinement. Understanding thin film mechanics of SF can provide insight into the progression of diseases, such as arthritis, but may also be applicable to the development of new implant surface treatments or new biomimetic lubricants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar S Mann
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA
| | - Ariell M Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA
| | - Joyce O Saltzherr
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA
| | - Arvind Gopinath
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA; Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA
| | - Roberto C Andresen Eguiluz
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA; Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA.
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8
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Zhang Y, Hollis D, Ross R, Snow T, Terrill NJ, Lu Y, Wang W, Connelly J, Tozzi G, Gupta HS. Investigating the Fibrillar Ultrastructure and Mechanics in Keloid Scars Using In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Nanomechanical Imaging. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15051836. [PMID: 35269067 PMCID: PMC8911729 DOI: 10.3390/ma15051836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Fibrotic scarring is prevalent in a range of collagenous tissue disorders. Understanding the role of matrix biophysics in contributing to fibrotic progression is important to develop therapies, as well as to elucidate biological mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate how microfocus small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), with in situ mechanics and correlative imaging, can provide quantitative and position-resolved information on the fibrotic matrix nanostructure and its mechanical properties. We use as an example the case of keloid scarring in skin. SAXS mapping reveals heterogeneous gradients in collagen fibrillar concentration, fibril pre-strain (variations in D-period) and a new interfibrillar component likely linked to proteoglycans, indicating evidence of a complex 3D structure at the nanoscale. Furthermore, we demonstrate a proof-of-principle for a diffraction-contrast correlative imaging technique, incorporating, for the first time, DIC and SAXS, and providing an initial estimate for measuring spatially resolved fibrillar-level strain and reorientation in such heterogeneous tissues. By application of the method, we quantify (at the microscale) fibrillar reorientations, increases in fibrillar D-period variance, and increases in mean D-period under macroscopic tissue strains of ~20%. Our results open the opportunity of using synchrotron X-ray nanomechanical imaging as a quantitative tool to probe structure–function relations in keloid and other fibrotic disorders in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuezhou Zhang
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; (Y.Z.); (W.W.)
| | - Dave Hollis
- LaVision UK, 2 Minton Place, Victoria Road, Bicester OX26 6QB, UK;
| | - Rosie Ross
- Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (R.R.); (J.C.)
| | - Tim Snow
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (T.S.); (N.J.T.)
| | - Nick J. Terrill
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK; (T.S.); (N.J.T.)
| | - Yongjie Lu
- Centre for Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 5PZ, UK;
| | - Wen Wang
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; (Y.Z.); (W.W.)
| | - John Connelly
- Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (R.R.); (J.C.)
| | - Gianluca Tozzi
- School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, UK;
| | - Himadri S. Gupta
- Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; (Y.Z.); (W.W.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Reversible changes in the 3D collagen fibril architecture during cyclic loading of healthy and degraded cartilage. Acta Biomater 2021; 136:314-326. [PMID: 34563724 PMCID: PMC8631461 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Biomechanical changes to the collagen fibrillar architecture in articular cartilage are believed to play a crucial role in enabling normal joint function. However, experimentally there is little quantitative knowledge about the structural response of the Type II collagen fibrils in cartilage to cyclic loading in situ, and the mechanisms that drive the ability of cartilage to withstand long-term repetitive loading. Here we utilize synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combined with in-situ cyclic loading of bovine articular cartilage explants to measure the fibrillar response in deep zone articular cartilage, in terms of orientation, fibrillar strain and inter-fibrillar variability in healthy cartilage and cartilage degraded by exposure to the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. We demonstrate that under repeated cyclic loading the fibrils reversibly change the width of the fibrillar orientation distribution whilst maintaining a largely consistent average direction of orientation. Specifically, the effect on the fibrillar network is a 3-dimensional conical orientation broadening around the normal to the joint surface, inferred by 3D reconstruction of X-ray scattering peak intensity distributions from the 2D pattern. Further, at the intrafibrillar level, this effect is coupled with reversible reduction in fibrillar pre-strain under compression, alongside increase in the variability of fibrillar pre-strain. In IL-1β degraded cartilage, the collagen rearrangement under cyclic loading is disrupted and associated with reduced tissue stiffness. These finding have implications as to how changes in local collagen nanomechanics might drive disease progression or vice versa in conditions such as osteoarthritis and provides a pathway to a mechanistic understanding of such diseases. Statement of significance Structural deterioration in biomechanically loaded musculoskeletal organs, e.g., joint osteoarthritis and back pain, are linked to breakdown and changes in their collagen-rich cartilaginous tissue matrix. A critical component enabling cartilage biomechanics is the ultrastructural collagen fibrillar network in cartilage. However, experimental probes of the dynamic structural response of cartilage collagen to biomechanical loads are limited. Here, we use X-ray scattering during cyclic loading (as during walking) on joint tissue to show that cartilage fibrils resist loading by a reversible, three-dimensional orientation broadening and disordering mechanism at the molecular level, and that inflammation reduces this functionality. Our results will help understand how changes to small-scale tissue mechanisms are linked to ageing and osteoarthritic progression, and development of biomaterials for joint replacements.
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10
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Ding N, Zeng MY, Song WJ, Xiao CX, Li EM, Wei B. SP600125 Restored TNF-α-Induced Impaired Chondrogenesis in Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Its Antiosteoarthritis Effect in Mice. Stem Cells Dev 2021; 30:1028-1036. [PMID: 34486378 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation, the main factor in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA), impairs the chondrogenesis of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), which is an appealing process to target to regenerate impaired articular cartilage. This article aimed to investigate whether SP600125, a competitive ATP-specific inhibitor of the JNK pathway, could promote the chondrogenesis of BMSCs by enhancing their anti-inflammatory capacity. Chondrogenic differentiation was assessed by Alcian blue staining, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot. The inflammation level was associated with the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp), evaluated by Western blot. Intra-articular injection of BMSCs pretreated with or without SP600125 was carried out on C57BL/6 mice after inducing OA by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus. Safranin O-fast green (SO) and hematoxylin-eosin staining were employed to evaluate the cartilage destruction and immunohistochemical analysis was adopted to detect the expression of Col2 and Mmp-13 proteins in the mouse knee joint. We showed that SP600125 could inhibit inflammation induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and promote the chondrogenesis of BMSCs. In the presence of TNF-α, the expression of aggrecan (Agc) and collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2) was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group and increased with the addition of SP600125. Moreover, the expression of Mmp-1, Mmp-3, and Mmp-13 was increased in BMSCs treated only with TNF-α and downregulated in SP600125-treated BMSCs. In vivo study showed that SP600125 could enhance protective effects of BMSCs on OA mice. Our results indicated that SP600125 rescued the chondrogenesis of BMSCs by inhibiting inflammation induced by TNF-α, which provides a theoretical basis for solving the problem of cartilage repair under inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Ding
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Pathogenic Biology Institute, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Mei-Yu Zeng
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Wen-Jin Song
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Chu-Xiong Xiao
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Er-Mao Li
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Bo Wei
- Research Lab of Translational Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Human International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Arteriosclerotic Disease, Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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11
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Leighton MP, Rutenberg AD, Kreplak L. D-band strain underestimates fibril strain for twisted collagen fibrils at low strains. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 124:104854. [PMID: 34601435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Collagen fibrils are the main structural component of load-bearing tissues such as tendons, ligaments, skin, the cornea of the eye, and the heart. The D-band of collagen fibrils is an axial periodic density modulation that can be easily characterized by tissue-level X-ray scattering. During mechanical testing, D-band strain is often used as a proxy for fibril strain. However, this approach ignores the coupling between strain and molecular tilt. We examine the validity of this approximation using an elastomeric collagen fibril model that includes both the D-band and a molecular tilt field. In the low strain regime, we show that the D-band strain substantially underestimates fibril strain for strongly twisted collagen fibrils - such as fibrils from skin or corneal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew P Leighton
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew D Rutenberg
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Nova Scotia, Canada.
| | - Laurent Kreplak
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Elahi SA, Tanska P, Korhonen RK, Lories R, Famaey N, Jonkers I. An in silico Framework of Cartilage Degeneration That Integrates Fibril Reorientation and Degradation Along With Altered Hydration and Fixed Charge Density Loss. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:680257. [PMID: 34239859 PMCID: PMC8258121 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.680257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Injurious mechanical loading of articular cartilage and associated lesions compromise the mechanical and structural integrity of joints and contribute to the onset and progression of cartilage degeneration leading to osteoarthritis (OA). Despite extensive in vitro and in vivo research, it remains unclear how the changes in cartilage composition and structure that occur during cartilage degeneration after injury, interact. Recently, in silico techniques provide a unique integrated platform to investigate the causal mechanisms by which the local mechanical environment of injured cartilage drives cartilage degeneration. Here, we introduce a novel integrated Cartilage Adaptive REorientation Degeneration (CARED) algorithm to predict the interaction between degenerative variations in main cartilage constituents, namely collagen fibril disorganization and degradation, proteoglycan (PG) loss, and change in water content. The algorithm iteratively interacts with a finite element (FE) model of a cartilage explant, with and without variable depth to full-thickness defects. In these FE models, intact and injured explants were subjected to normal (2 MPa unconfined compression in 0.1 s) and injurious mechanical loading (4 MPa unconfined compression in 0.1 s). Depending on the mechanical response of the FE model, the collagen fibril orientation and density, PG and water content were iteratively updated. In the CARED model, fixed charge density (FCD) loss and increased water content were related to decrease in PG content. Our model predictions were consistent with earlier experimental studies. In the intact explant model, minimal degenerative changes were observed under normal loading, while the injurious loading caused a reorientation of collagen fibrils toward the direction perpendicular to the surface, intense collagen degradation at the surface, and intense PG loss in the superficial and middle zones. In the injured explant models, normal loading induced intense collagen degradation, collagen reorientation, and PG depletion both on the surface and around the lesion. Our results confirm that the cartilage lesion depth is a crucial parameter affecting tissue degeneration, even under physiological loading conditions. The results suggest that potential fibril reorientation might prevent or slow down fibril degradation under conditions in which the tissue mechanical homeostasis is perturbed like the presence of defects or injurious loading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ali Elahi
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petri Tanska
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rami K Korhonen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Rik Lories
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Famaey
- Mechanical Engineering Department, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Jonkers
- Department of Movement Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Development and Regeneration, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Dorogin J, Townsend JM, Hettiaratchi MH. Biomaterials for protein delivery for complex tissue healing responses. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:2339-2361. [PMID: 33432960 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01804j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tissue repair requires a complex cascade of events mediated by a variety of cells, proteins, and matrix molecules; however, the healing cascade can be easily disrupted by numerous factors, resulting in impaired tissue regeneration. Recent advances in biomaterials for tissue regeneration have increased the ability to tailor the delivery of proteins and other biomolecules to injury sites to restore normal healing cascades and stimulate robust tissue repair. In this review, we discuss the evolution of the field toward creating biomaterials that precisely control protein delivery to stimulate tissue regeneration, with a focus on addressing complex and dynamic injury environments. We highlight biomaterials that leverage different mechanisms to deliver and present proteins involved in healing cascades, tissue targeting and mimicking strategies, materials that can be triggered by environmental cues, and integrated strategies that combine multiple biomaterial properties to improve protein delivery. Improvements in biomaterial design to address complex injury environments will expand our understanding of both normal and aberrant tissue repair processes and ultimately provide a better standard of patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Dorogin
- Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, University of Oregon, 6321 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.
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14
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Zhang W, Bertinetti L, Blank KG, Dimova R, Gao C, Schneck E, Fratzl P. Spatiotemporal Measurement of Osmotic Pressures by FRET Imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:6488-6495. [PMID: 33188706 PMCID: PMC7986915 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202011983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Osmotic pressures (OPs) play essential roles in biological processes and numerous technological applications. However, the measurement of OP in situ with spatiotemporal resolution has not been achieved so far. Herein, we introduce a novel kind of OP sensor based on liposomes loaded with water-soluble fluorescent dyes exhibiting resonance energy transfer (FRET). The liposomes experience volume changes in response to OP due to water outflux. The FRET efficiency depends on the average distance between the entrapped dyes and thus provides a direct measure of the OP surrounding each liposome. The sensors exhibit high sensitivity to OP in the biologically relevant range of 0-0.3 MPa in aqueous solutions of salt, small organic molecules, and macromolecules. With the help of FRET microscopy, we demonstrate the feasibility of spatiotemporal OP imaging, which can be a promising new tool to investigate phenomena involving OPs and their dynamics in biology and technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Luca Bertinetti
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Kerstin G. Blank
- Mechano(bio)chemistryMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory & Bio-SystemsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
| | - Changyou Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and FunctionalizationDepartment of Polymer Science and EngineeringZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310027China
| | - Emanuel Schneck
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
- Department of PhysicsTechnische Universität Darmstadt64289DarmstadtGermany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of BiomaterialsMax Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces14476PotsdamGermany
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15
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Zhang W, Bertinetti L, Blank KG, Dimova R, Gao C, Schneck E, Fratzl P. Spatiotemporal Measurement of Osmotic Pressures by FRET Imaging. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202011983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zhang
- Department of Biomaterials Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
| | - Luca Bertinetti
- Department of Biomaterials Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
| | - Kerstin G. Blank
- Mechano(bio)chemistry Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- Department of Theory & Bio-Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
| | - Changyou Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization Department of Polymer Science and Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Emanuel Schneck
- Department of Biomaterials Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
- Department of Physics Technische Universität Darmstadt 64289 Darmstadt Germany
| | - Peter Fratzl
- Department of Biomaterials Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces 14476 Potsdam Germany
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16
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Xi L, Zhang Y, Gupta H, Terrill N, Wang P, Zhao T, Fang D. A multiscale study of structural and compositional changes in a natural nanocomposite: Osteoporotic bone with chronic endogenous steroid excess. Bone 2021; 143:115666. [PMID: 33007528 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2020.115666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid (or steroid) induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the leading form of secondary osteoporosis, affecting up to 50% of patients receiving chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Bone quantity (bone mass) changes in GIOP patients alone are inadequate to explain the increased fracture risk, and bone material changes (bone quality) at multiple levels have been implicated in the reduced mechanics. Quantitative analysis of specific material-level changes is limited. Here, we combined multiscale experimental techniques (scanning small/wide-angle X-ray scattering/diffraction, backscattered electron imaging, and X-ray radiography) to investigate these changes in a mouse model (Crh-120/+) with chronic endogenous steroid production. Nanoscale degree of orientation, the size distribution of mineral nanocrystals in the bone matrix, the spatial map of mineralization on the femoral cortex, and the microporosity showed significant changes between GIOP and the control, especially in the endosteal cortex. Our work can provide insight into the altered structure-property relationship leading to lowered mechanical properties in GIOP. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: As a natural nanocomposite with a hierarchical structure, bone undergoes a staggered load transfer mechanism at the nanoscale. Disease and age-related deterioration of bone mechanics are caused by changes in bone structure at multiple length scales. Although clinical tools such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can be used to assess the reduction of bone quantity in these cases, little is known about how altered bone quality in diseased bone can increase fracture risk. It is clear that high-resolution diagnostic techniques need to be developed to narrow the gap between the onset and diagnosis of fracture-related changes. Here, by combining several scanning probe methods on a mouse model (Crh-120/+) of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), we developed quantitative and spatially resolved maps of ultrastructural changes in collagen fibrils and mineral nanocrystals, mineralization distribution (microscale), and morphology (macroscale) across femoral osteoporotic bone. Our results indicate that the altered bone remodelling in GIOP leads to 1) heterogeneous bone structure and mineralization, 2) reduced degree of orientation of collagen fibrils and mineral nanocrystals, and 3) reduced length and increased thickness of mineral nanocrystals, which contribute to mechanical abnormalities. The combined multiscale experimental approach presented here will be used to understand musculoskeletal degeneration in aging and osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xi
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; Beamline I22, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Institution of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Himadri Gupta
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Nick Terrill
- Beamline I22, Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Pan Wang
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Tian Zhao
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Daining Fang
- Institute of Advanced Structure Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
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17
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Zhang Y, Garrevoet J, Wang Y, Roeh JT, Terrill NJ, Falkenberg G, Dong Y, Gupta HS. Molecular to Macroscale Energy Absorption Mechanisms in Biological Body Armour Illuminated by Scanning X-ray Diffraction with In Situ Compression. ACS NANO 2020; 14:16535-16546. [PMID: 33034451 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c02879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Determining multiscale, concurrent strain, and deformation mechanisms in hierarchical biological materials is a crucial engineering goal, to understand structural optimization strategies in Nature. However, experimentally characterizing complex strain and displacement fields within a 3D hierarchical composite, in a multiscale full-field manner, is challenging. Here, we determined the in situ strains at the macro-, meso-, and molecular-levels in stomatopod cuticle simultaneously, by exploiting the anisotropy of the 3D fiber diffraction coupled with sample rotation. The results demonstrate the method, using the mineralized 3D α-chitin fiber networks as strain sensors, can capture submicrometer deformation of a single lamella (mesoscale), can extract strain information on multiple constituents concurrently, and shows that α-chitin fiber networks deform elastically while the surrounding matrix deforms plastically before systematic failure under compression. Further, the results demonstrate a molecular-level prestrain gradient in chitin fibers, resulting from different mineralization degrees in the exo- and endo cuticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, 100049 Beijing, China
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Garrevoet
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yanhong Wang
- Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, E1 4NS London, U.K
| | - Jan Torben Roeh
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicholas J Terrill
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, OX11 0DE Harwell, U.K
| | | | - Yuhui Dong
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Himadri S Gupta
- Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Bioengineering and School of Engineering and Material Science, E1 4NS London, U.K
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18
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Tao F, Jiang T, Tao H, Cao H, Xiang W. Primary cilia: Versatile regulator in cartilage development. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12765. [PMID: 32034931 PMCID: PMC7106963 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cartilage is a connective tissue in the skeletal system and has limited regeneration ability and unique biomechanical reactivity. The growth and development of cartilage can be affected by different physical, chemical and biological factors, such as mechanical stress, inflammation, osmotic pressure, hypoxia and signalling transduction. Primary cilia are multifunctional sensory organelles that regulate diverse signalling transduction and cell activities. They are crucial for the regulation of cartilage development and act in a variety of ways, such as react to mechanical stress, mediate signalling transduction, regulate cartilage‐related diseases progression and affect cartilage tumorigenesis. Therefore, research on primary cilia‐mediated cartilage growth and development is currently extremely popular. This review outlines the role of primary cilia in cartilage development in recent years and elaborates on the potential regulatory mechanisms from different aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hai Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Cao
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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