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Yang G, Li X, Zhang W, Wu N, Chen H, Liu X, Jiang H. Quantitative T2 mapping monitoring the maturation of engineered elastic cartilage in a rabbit model. BMC Med Imaging 2023; 23:36. [PMID: 36879206 PMCID: PMC9987110 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-023-00985-9] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cartilage tissue engineering provides a promising approach to reconstruct craniofacial defects, and a noninvasive method is needed to assess its effectiveness. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to evaluate articular cartilage in vivo, few studies focused on its feasibility in monitoring engineered elastic cartilage (EC). METHODS Auricular cartilage, silk fibroin (SF) scaffold, and EC consisting of rabbit auricular chondrocytes and SF scaffold were transplanted subcutaneously into the rabbit back. In eight weeks after transplantation, grafts were imaged by MRI using PROSET, PDW VISTA SPAIR, 3D T2 VISTA, 2D MIXED T2 Multislice, and SAG TE multiecho sequences, followed by histological examination and biochemical analysis. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the association between T2 values and biochemical indicator values of EC. RESULTS In vivo imaging shows that 2D MIXED T2 Multislice sequence (T2 mapping) clearly distinguished the native cartilage, engineered cartilage and fibrous tissue. T2 values showed high correlations with cartilage-specific biochemical parameters at different time points, especially the elastic cartilage specific protein elastin (ELN, r= -0.939, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Quantitative T2 mapping can effectively detect the in vivo maturity of engineered elastic cartilage after subcutaneously transplantation. This study would promote the clinical application of MRI T2 mapping in monitoring engineered elastic cartilage in the repair of craniofacial defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Yang
- Auricular Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, 100144, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Li
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, 100005, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dongdan Santiao, Dongcheng District, 100005, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nier Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, 100871, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, 100871, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Liu
- Research Center, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, 100144, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haiyue Jiang
- Auricular Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, 100144, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Yang Y, Xu X, Lacke M, Zhuang P. Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Explore the Changes in the Microstructure of Canine Vocal Fold Scar Tissue. J Voice 2023:S0892-1997(23)00002-4. [PMID: 36725407 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2023.01.003] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To apply diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in measurement of the diffusion characteristics of water molecules in vocal fold scar tissue, combined with the analysis of textural characteristics of collagen fibers in the cover layer of the vocal folds to explore the feasibility of DTI in the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of vocal fold scars and the evaluation of microstructural changes of vocal fold scar tissue. METHODS A unilateral injury was created using micro-cup forceps in the left vocal fold of six beagles. The contralateral normal vocal fold was used as a self-control. Five months postinjury, the larynges were excised and placed into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (9.4T BioSpec MRI, Bruker, German) for scanning and extraction of the diffusion parameters, fractional anisotropy (FA) and tensor trace in the anterior, middle, and posterior portions of the vocal fold cover layer. These parameters were then analyzed for statistical significance between the scarred vocal fold and the normal vocal fold. After MRI scanning, the tissue of the vocal folds was divided into anterior, middle, and posterior parts for sectioning and staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and samples were subsequently digitally scanned for texture analysis. The irregularity parameters, energy, contrast, correlation, and homogeneity, of collagen fibers of the vocal folds and the mean gray value of collagen fibers were calculated by the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture analysis method. The differences in the mean value of the two sides of the vocal fold were compared. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis was performed between DTI parameters and irregularity parameters. RESULTS The FA of the left vocal fold cover layer was significantly lower compared to the self-control group (P = 0.0366), and the tensor trace value on the left vocal fold cover layer was significantly higher compared to the self-control group (P = 0.0353). The FA was significantly higher in the anterior part of the right vocal fold cover layer compared to the middle and posterior parts of the same side (P = 0.0352), and the tensor trace was significantly lower in the anterior part of the right vocal fold cover layer compared to the middle and posterior parts of the same side (P = 0.0298). There were no significant differences in FA and tensor trace between the middle and posterior parts of the vocal fold cover layer. The mean gray value of the left vocal folds cover layer was significantly smaller than the right vocal fold cover layer (P = 0.0219), the energy of the left vocal fold cover layer was significantly smaller than that of the right vocal fold cover layer (P < 0.0001), the contrast of the left vocal folds cover layer was significantly larger than that of the right vocal fold cover layer (P = 0.0002), the correlation of the left vocal folds cover layer was significantly smaller than the right vocal fold cover layer (P = 0.0002), and the homogeneity of the left vocal folds cover layer was significantly smaller than the right vocal fold cover layer (P = 0.0003). Pearson correlation analysis yielded values of r = 0.926, P = 0.000 between the FA and mean gray value; r = -0.918, P = 0.000 between FA and energy; r = -0.924, P = 0.000 between the FA and homogeneity, r = -0.949, P = 0.000 between tensor trace and mean gray value; r = 0.893, P = 0.000 between the tensor trace and energy; and r = 0.929, P = 0.000 between the tensor trace and homogeneity. CONCLUSION FA and tensor trace can be used as effective parameters to reflect microstructural changes in vocal fold scars. DTI is an objective and quantitative method of analyzing vocal fold scarring, and it noninvasively evaluates the microstructure of vocal fold collagen fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Department of Voice, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xinlin Xu
- Department of Voice, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Margaret Lacke
- Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Peiyun Zhuang
- Department of Voice, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Moo EK, Tanska P, Federico S, Al-Saffar Y, Herzog W, Korhonen RK. Collagen fibres determine the crack morphology in articular cartilage. Acta Biomater 2021; 126:301-314. [PMID: 33757903 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cracks in articular cartilage compromise tissue integrity and mechanical properties and lead to chondral lesions if untreated. An understanding of the mechanics of cracked cartilage may help in the prevention of cartilage deterioration and the development of tissue-engineered substitutes. The degeneration of cartilage in the presence of cracks may depend on the ultrastructure and composition of the tissue, which changes with aging, disease and habitual loading. It is unknown if the structural and compositional differences between immature and mature cartilage affect the mechanics of cartilage cracks, possibly predisposing one to a greater risk of degeneration than the other. We used a fibre-reinforced poro-viscoelastic swelling material model that accounts for large deformations and tension-compression non-linearity, and the finite element method to investigate the role of cartilage structure and composition on crack morphology and tissue mechanics. We demonstrate that the crack morphology predicted by our theoretical model agrees well with the histo-morphometric images of young and mature cracked cartilages under indentation loading. We also determined that the crack morphology was primarily dependent on collagen fibre orientation which differs as a function of cartilage depth and tissue maturity. The arcade-like collagen fibre orientation, first discussed by Benninghoff in his classical 1925 paper, appears to be beneficial for slowing the progression of tissue cracks by 'sealing' the crack and partially preserving fluid pressure during loading. Preservation of the natural load distribution between solid and fluid constituents of cartilage may be a key factor in slowing or preventing the propagation of tissue cracks and associated tissue matrix damage. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cracks in articular cartilage can be detrimental to joint health if not treated, but it is not clear how they propagate and lead to tissue degradation. We used an advanced numerical model to determine the role of cartilage structure and composition on crack morphology under loading. Based on the structure and composition found in immature and mature cartilages, our model successfully predicts the crack morphology in these cartilages and determines that collagen fibre as the major determinant of crack morphology. The arcade-like Benninghoff collagen fibre orientation appears to be crucial in 'sealing' the tissue crack and preserves normal fluid-solid load distribution in cartilage. Inclusion of the arcade-like fibre orientation in tissue-engineered construct may help improve its integration within the host tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eng Kuan Moo
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland; Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4, Canada.
| | - Petri Tanska
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland.
| | - Salvatore Federico
- Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4 Canada; Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4, Canada.
| | - Yasir Al-Saffar
- Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Walter Herzog
- Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500, University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4 Canada; Biomechanics Laboratory, School of Sports, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil.
| | - Rami K Korhonen
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, POB 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland.
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Raspanti M, Protasoni M, Zecca PA, Reguzzoni M. Slippery when wet: The free surface of the articular cartilage. Microsc Res Tech 2020; 84:1257-1264. [PMID: 33378558 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The free surface of the articular cartilage must withstand compressive and shearing forces, maintain a low friction coefficient and allow oxygen and metabolites to reach the underlying matrix. In many ways it is critical to the physiology of the whole tissue and its disruption always involves deep pathological alterations and loss of the joint integrity. Being very difficult to image with section-based conventional techniques, it was often described by previous research in conflicting terms or entirely overlooked. High-magnification face-on observations with high resolution scanning electron microscopy and with scanning probe microscopy revealed a very thin, delicate superficial layer rich in glycoconjugates, which may explain the very low friction coefficient of the tissue but which was very easily altered and/or dissolved in the preparation. Beneath this superficial sheet lies a thicker coat of thin, highly uniform, slightly wavy collagen fibrils lying parallel to the surface and mutually interconnected by a huge number of interfibrillar glycosaminoglycan bridges. These bridges and the collagen fibrils form an extended reticular structure able to redistribute tensile and compressive stress across a larger area of the surface and hence a greater volume of tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Raspanti
- Laboratory of Human Morphology, Department of Medicine & Surgery, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Marina Protasoni
- Laboratory of Human Morphology, Department of Medicine & Surgery, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Piero Antonio Zecca
- Laboratory of Human Morphology, Department of Medicine & Surgery, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
| | - Marcella Reguzzoni
- Laboratory of Human Morphology, Department of Medicine & Surgery, Insubria University, Varese, Italy
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Basso PR, Carava' E, Protasoni M, Reguzzoni M, Raspanti M. The synovial surface of the articular cartilage. Eur J Histochem 2020; 64. [PMID: 32613818 PMCID: PMC7341071 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2020.3146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The articular cartilage has been the subject of a huge amount of research carried out with a wide array of different techniques. Most of the existing morphological and ultrastructural data on this tissue, however, were obtained either by light microscopy or by transmission electron microscopy. Both techniques rely on thin sections and neither allows a direct, face-on visualization of the free cartilage surface (synovial surface), which is the only portion subject to frictional as well as compressive forces. In the present research, high resolution visualization by scanning electron microscopy and by atomic force microscopy revealed that the collagen fibrils of the articular surface are exclusively represented by thin, uniform, parallel fibrils evocative of the heterotypic type IX-type II fibrils reported by other authors, immersed in an abundant matrix of glycoconjugates, in part regularly arranged in phase with the D-period of collagen. Electrophoresis of fluorophore-labeled saccharides confirmed that the superficial and the deeper layers are quite different in their glycoconjugate content as well, the deeper ones containing more sulfated, more acidic small proteoglycans bound to thicker, more heterogeneous collagen fibrils. The differences found between the synovial surface and the deeper layers are consistent with the different mechanical stresses they must withstand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Rita Basso
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Insubria University, Varese.
| | - Elena Carava'
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Insubria University, Varese.
| | - Marina Protasoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Insubria University, Varese.
| | | | - Mario Raspanti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Insubria University, Varese.
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