1
|
Functional Loss of Terminal Complement Complex Protects Rabbits from Injury-Induced Osteoarthritis on Structural and Cellular Level. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020216. [PMID: 36830586 PMCID: PMC9953363 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The terminal complement complex (TCC) has been described as a potential driver in the pathogenesis of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). However, sublytic TCC deposition might also play a crucial role in bone development and regeneration. Therefore, we elucidated the effects of TCC on joint-related tissues using a rabbit PTOA model. In brief, a C6-deficient rabbit breed was characterized on genetic, protein, and functional levels. Anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) was performed in C6-deficient (C6-/-) and C6-sufficient (C6+/-) rabbits. After eight weeks, the progression of PTOA was determined histologically. Moreover, the structure of the subchondral bone was evaluated by µCT analysis. C6 deficiency could be attributed to a homozygous 3.6 kb deletion within the C6 gene and subsequent loss of the C5b binding site. Serum from C6-/- animals revealed no hemolytic activity. After ACLT surgery, joints of C6-/- rabbits exhibited significantly lower OA scores, including reduced cartilage damage, hypocellularity, cluster formation, and osteophyte number, as well as lower chondrocyte apoptosis rates and synovial prostaglandin E2 levels. Moreover, ACLT surgery significantly decreased the trabecular number in the subchondral bone of C6-/- rabbits. Overall, the absence of TCC protected from injury-induced OA progression but had minor effects on the micro-structure of the subchondral bone.
Collapse
|
2
|
Riegger J, Maurer S, Pulasani S, Brenner RE. Simvastatin and fluvastatin attenuate trauma-induced cell death and catabolism in human cartilage. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:965302. [PMID: 36159664 PMCID: PMC9500391 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.965302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Joint injuries are known to induce pathomechanisms that might lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). In this regard, statins with their pleiotropic effects could represent potential therapeutic agents in preventing the development of PTOA. Therefore, we investigated the effects of simvastatin and fluvastatin in a drop-tower-based human ex vivo cartilage trauma model. After 7 days, a mechanical impact (0.59 J) resulted in a decrease of the cell viability and increased expression of catabolic enzymes in cartilage explants. Simvastatin and fluvastatin treatment of impacted cartilage demonstrated cell protective effects in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, statin therapy exhibited chondroprotective effects as demonstrated by attenuated expression of MMP-2 and MMP-13 as well as subsequent breakdown of collagen type II (after impact). Further analysis indicated antioxidative properties of the statins by upregulating the gene expression of SOD2 and suppression that of NOX2 and NOX4. Despite its protective effects, simvastatin impaired the biosynthesis of collagen type II, which was confirmed during chondrogenic redifferentiation of high passage chondrocytes. However, while long-term administration of statins for 4 weeks impaired chondrogenic redifferentiation, addition of simvastatin at low concentrations for 1 week exhibited a slightly promoting effect. In conclusion, our data imply that simvastatin and fluvastatin are suitable in terms of initial harm reduction after cartilage trauma.
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang L, Brouillette MJ, Coleman MC, Kluz PN, Goetz JE. Automated quantification of live articular chondrocyte fluorescent staining using a custom image analysis framework. J Orthop Res 2022; 40:1203-1212. [PMID: 34191348 DOI: 10.1002/jor.25137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to develop, validate, and implement an image analysis framework to automatically analyze chondrocytes in 3D image stacks of cartilage acquired using a fluorescent confocal microscope. Source specimens consist of viable osteochondral tissue co-stained with multiple live-cell dyes. Our framework utilizes a seeded watershed-based algorithm to automatically segment individual chondrocytes in each 2D slice of the confocal image stack. The resulting cell segmentations are colocalized in 3D to eliminate duplicate segmentation of the same cell resulting from the visibility of fluorescence signal in multiple imaging planes, and the 3D cell distribution is used to automatically define the cartilage tissue volume. The algorithm then provides chondrocyte density data, and the associated segmentation can be used as a mask to extract and quantify per cell intensity of a secondary, functional dye co-staining the chondrocytes. The accuracy of the automated chondrocyte segmentation was validated against manual segmentations (average IOU = 0.79). When applied to a cartilage surrogate, this analysis framework estimated chondrocyte density within 10% of the true density and demonstrated a good agreement between framework's counts and manual counts (R2 = 0.99). In a real application, the framework was able to detect the increased dye signal of monochlorobimane (MCB) in chondrocytes treated with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) after mechanical injury, quantifying intracellular biochemical changes in living cells. This new framework allows for fast and accurate quantification of intracellular activities of chondrocytes, and it can be adapted for broader application in many imaging and treatment modalities, including therapeutic OA research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linjun Yang
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Marc J Brouillette
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Mitchell C Coleman
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Paige N Kluz
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Jessica E Goetz
- Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tritschler H, Fischer K, Seissler J, Fiedler J, Halbgebauer R, Huber-Lang M, Schnieke A, Brenner RE. New Insights into Xenotransplantation for Cartilage Repair: Porcine Multi-Genetically Modified Chondrocytes as a Promising Cell Source. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082152. [PMID: 34440921 PMCID: PMC8394410 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of xenogenic porcine chondrocytes could represent a future strategy for the treatment of human articular cartilage defects. Major obstacles are humoral and cellular rejection processes triggered by xenogenic epitopes like α-1,3-Gal and Neu5Gc. Besides knockout (KO) of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of respective epitopes (GGTA1 and CMAH), transgenic expression of human complement inhibitors and anti-apoptotic as well as anti-inflammatory factors (CD46, CD55, CD59, TNFAIP3 and HMOX1) could synergistically prevent hyperacute xenograft rejection. Therefore, chondrocytes from different strains of single- or multi-genetically modified pigs were characterized concerning their protection from xenogeneic complement activation. Articular chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joints of WT, GalTKO, GalT/CMAH-KO, human CD59/CD55//CD46/TNFAIP3/HMOX1-transgenic (TG), GalTKO/TG and GalT/CMAHKO/TG pigs. The tissue-specific effectiveness of the genetic modifications was tested on gene, protein and epitope expression level or by functional assays. After exposure to 20% and 40% normal human serum (NHS), deposition of C3b/iC3b/C3c and formation of the terminal complement complex (TCC, C5b-9) was quantified by specific cell ELISAs, and generation of the anaphylatoxin C5a by ELISA. Chondrocyte lysis was analyzed by Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay. In all respective KO variants, the absence of α -1,3-Gal and Neu5Gc epitope was verified by FACS analysis. In chondrocytes derived from TG animals, expression of CD55 and CD59 could be confirmed on gene and protein level, TNFAIP3 on gene expression level as well as by functional assays and CD46 only on gene expression level whereas transgenic HMOX1 expression was not evident. Complement activation in the presence of NHS indicated mainly effective although incomplete protection against C3b/iC3b/C3c deposition, C5a-generation and C5b-9 formation being lowest in single GalTKO. Chondrocyte viability under exposure to NHS was significantly improved even by single GalTKO and completely preserved by all other variants including TG chondrocytes without KO of xenoepitopes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Tritschler
- Division for Biochemistry of Joint and Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Orthopedics, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Konrad Fischer
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany; (K.F.); (A.S.)
| | - Jochen Seissler
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Diabetes Zentrum—Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80336 München, Germany;
| | - Jörg Fiedler
- Division for Biochemistry of Joint and Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Orthopedics, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Rebecca Halbgebauer
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma Immunology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (R.H.); (M.H.-L.)
| | - Markus Huber-Lang
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Trauma Immunology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (R.H.); (M.H.-L.)
| | - Angelika Schnieke
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany; (K.F.); (A.S.)
| | - Rolf E. Brenner
- Division for Biochemistry of Joint and Connective Tissue Diseases, Department of Orthopedics, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (H.T.); (J.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-731-500-63280
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yeh YT, Liang CC, Chang CL, Hsu CY, Li PC. Increased risk of knee osteoarthritis in patients using oral N-acetylcysteine: a nationwide cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020; 21:531. [PMID: 32778089 PMCID: PMC7418329 DOI: 10.1186/s12891-020-03562-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is known to be a progressive degenerative disorder; however, recent evidence suggests that inflammatory mediators contribute to cartilage degradation. Studies have reported that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) had a promising effect on the reduction of the synthesis of proinflammatory and structural mediators by synovial cells. Given the lack of relevant clinical trials, we conducted this study to determine the relationship between NAC use and risk of knee OA. Methods We designed a retrospective cohort study from 2000 to 2013. Patients who received oral NAC over 28 days within 1 year after the first prescription were defined as the case group, whereas those without NAC use were considered as candidates of the control group. We adopted 1:4 propensity-score matching by age, sex, index year, and comorbidities to obtain the control group. The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of knee OA during the follow-up period. Results Our study sample comprised 12,928 people who used NAC and 51,715 NAC nonusers. NAC users had a significantly higher incidence of osteoarthritis (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.42, P < .001) than did NAC nonusers. Also, in analyses stratified by age group and sex, all subgroups exhibited a significantly higher incidence of knee osteoarthritis (P < .0001) among NAC users than among NAC nonusers. The use of oral NAC was associated with nearly four-fold increased the risk of knee OA in the young age group. Conclusions Long-term use of oral NAC is associated with a higher risk of knee OA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Ting Yeh
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Chao Liang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Chang
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Y Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chen Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pathomechanisms of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis: Chondrocyte Behavior and Fate in a Precarious Environment. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051560. [PMID: 32106481 PMCID: PMC7084733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic injuries of the knee joint result in a wide variety of pathomechanisms, which contribute to the development of so-called posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). These pathogenetic processes include oxidative stress, excessive expression of catabolic enzymes, release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and synovial inflammation. The present review focuses on the underlying pathomechanisms of PTOA and in particular the behavior and fate of the surviving chondrocytes, comprising chondrocyte metabolism, regulated cell death, and phenotypical changes comprising hypertrophy and senescence. Moreover, possible therapeutic strategies, such as chondroanabolic stimulation, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory treatment, as well as novel therapeutic targets are discussed.
Collapse
|