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Hartmann B, Fleischhauer L, Nicolau M, Jensen THL, Taran FA, Clausen-Schaumann H, Reuten R. Profiling native pulmonary basement membrane stiffness using atomic force microscopy. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:1498-1528. [PMID: 38429517 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00955-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Mammalian cells sense and react to the mechanics of their immediate microenvironment. Therefore, the characterization of the biomechanical properties of tissues with high spatial resolution provides valuable insights into a broad variety of developmental, homeostatic and pathological processes within living organisms. The biomechanical properties of the basement membrane (BM), an extracellular matrix (ECM) substructure measuring only ∼100-400 nm across, are, among other things, pivotal to tumor progression and metastasis formation. Although the precise assignment of the Young's modulus E of such a thin ECM substructure especially in between two cell layers is still challenging, biomechanical data of the BM can provide information of eminent diagnostic potential. Here we present a detailed protocol to quantify the elastic modulus of the BM in murine and human lung tissue, which is one of the major organs prone to metastasis. This protocol describes a streamlined workflow to determine the Young's modulus E of the BM between the endothelial and epithelial cell layers shaping the alveolar wall in lung tissues using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our step-by-step protocol provides instructions for murine and human lung tissue extraction, inflation of these tissues with cryogenic cutting medium, freezing and cryosectioning of the tissue samples, and AFM force-map recording. In addition, it guides the reader through a semi-automatic data analysis procedure to identify the pulmonary BM and extract its Young's modulus E using an in-house tailored user-friendly AFM data analysis software, the Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine processing toolbox, which enables automatic loading of the recorded force maps, conversion of the force versus piezo-extension curves to force versus indentation curves, calculation of Young's moduli and generation of Young's modulus maps, where the pulmonary BM can be identified using a semi-automatic spatial filtering tool. The entire protocol takes 1-2 d.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Hartmann
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany
| | - Monica Nicolau
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hartvig Lindkær Jensen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Florin-Andrei Taran
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Munich University of Applied Sciences, Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - CANTER, Munich, Germany.
- Center for Nanoscience, Munich, Germany.
| | - Raphael Reuten
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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Rapp AE, Zaucke F. Cartilage extracellular matrix-derived matrikines in osteoarthritis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 324:C377-C394. [PMID: 36571440 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00464.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is among the most frequent diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Degradation of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) is a hallmark of OA. During the degradation process, intact/full-length proteins and proteolytic fragments are released which then might induce different downstream responses via diverse receptors, therefore leading to different biological consequences. Collagen type II and the proteoglycan aggrecan are the most abundant components of the cartilage ECM. However, over the last decades, a large number of minor components have been identified and for some of those, a role in the manifold processes associated with OA has already been demonstrated. To date, there is still no therapy able to halt or cure OA. A better understanding of the matrikine landscape occurring with or even preceding obvious degenerative changes in joint tissues is needed and might help to identify molecules that could serve as biomarkers, druggable targets, or even be blueprints for disease modifying drug OA drugs. For this narrative review, we screened PubMed for relevant literature in the English language and summarized the current knowledge regarding the function of selected ECM molecules and the derived matrikines in the context of cartilage and OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Rapp
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Research Unit for Osteoarthritis, Department of Orthopedics (Friedrichsheim), University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Zaucke
- Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Research Unit for Osteoarthritis, Department of Orthopedics (Friedrichsheim), University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Young D, Barter M, Soul J. Osteoarthritis year in review: genetics, genomics, epigenetics. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2022; 30:216-225. [PMID: 34774787 PMCID: PMC8811265 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In this review, we have highlighted the advances over the past year in genetics, genomics and epigenetics in the field of osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS A literature search of PubMed was performed using the criteria: "osteoarthritis" and one of the following terms "genetic(s), genomic(s), epigenetic(s), polymorphism, noncoding ribonucleic acid (RNA), microRNA, long noncoding RNA, lncRNA, circular RNA, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), single cell sequencing, transcriptomics, or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation between April 01, 2020 and April 30, 2021. RESULTS In total we identified 765 unique publications, which eventually reduced to 380 of relevance to the field as judged by two assessors. Many of these studies included multiple search terms. We summarised advances relating to genetics, functional genetics, genomics and epigenetics, focusing on our personal key papers during the year. CONCLUSIONS This year few studies have identified new genetic variants contributing to OA susceptibility, but a focus has been on refining risk loci or their functional validation. The use of new technologies together with investigating the cross-talk between multiple tissue types, greater sample sizes and/or better patient classification (OA subtypes) will continue to increase our knowledge of disease mechanisms and progress towards understanding and treating OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- D.A. Young
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: D.A. Young, Skeletal Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK. Tel.: 44-191-2418831.
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Bubb K, Holzer T, Nolte JL, Krüger M, Wilson R, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Brinckmann J, Altmüller J, Aszodi A, Fleischhauer L, Clausen-Schaumann H, Probst K, Brachvogel B. Mitochondrial respiratory chain function promotes extracellular matrix integrity in cartilage. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101224. [PMID: 34560099 PMCID: PMC8503590 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Energy metabolism and extracellular matrix (ECM) function together orchestrate and maintain tissue organization, but crosstalk between these processes is poorly understood. Here, we used single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq) analysis to uncover the importance of the mitochondrial respiratory chain for ECM homeostasis in mature cartilage. This tissue produces large amounts of a specialized ECM to promote skeletal growth during development and maintain mobility throughout life. A combined approach of high-resolution scRNA-Seq, mass spectrometry/matrisome analysis, and atomic force microscopy was applied to mutant mice with cartilage-specific inactivation of respiratory chain function. This genetic inhibition in cartilage results in the expansion of a central area of 1-month-old mouse femur head cartilage, showing disorganized chondrocytes and increased deposition of ECM material. scRNA-Seq analysis identified a cell cluster-specific decrease in mitochondrial DNA-encoded respiratory chain genes and a unique regulation of ECM-related genes in nonarticular chondrocytes. These changes were associated with alterations in ECM composition, a shift in collagen/noncollagen protein content, and an increase of collagen crosslinking and ECM stiffness. These results demonstrate that mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction is a key factor that can promote ECM integrity and mechanostability in cartilage and presumably also in many other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Bubb
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Experimental Neonatology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tatjana Holzer
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Experimental Neonatology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janica L Nolte
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Institute of Genetics and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Brinckmann
- Department of Dermatology, Institute of Virology and Cell Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Core Facility Genomics, Berlin, Germany; Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Attila Aszodi
- Department for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Department for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Musculoskeletal University Center Munich (MUM), University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany; Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Probst
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Experimental Neonatology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Bent Brachvogel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Experimental Neonatology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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