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Dalby MJ, Pekovic-Vaughan V, Shanley DP, Swift J, White LJ, Canty-Laird EG. Strengths and opportunities in research into extracellular matrix ageing: A consultation with the ECMage research community. Bioessays 2024; 46:e2300223. [PMID: 38522027 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Ageing causes progressive decline in metabolic, behavioural, and physiological functions, leading to a reduced health span. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the three-dimensional network of macromolecules that provides our tissues with structure and biomechanical resilience. Imbalance between damage and repair/regeneration causes the ECM to undergo structural deterioration with age, contributing to age-associated pathology. The ECM 'Ageing Across the Life Course' interdisciplinary research network (ECMage) was established to bring together researchers in the United Kingdom, and internationally, working on the emerging field of ECM ageing. Here we report on a consultation at a joint meeting of ECMage and the Medical Research Council / Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing, held in January 2023, in which delegates analysed the key questions and research opportunities in the field of ECM ageing. We examine fundamental biological questions, enabling technologies, systems of study and emerging in vitro and in silico models, alongside consideration of the broader challenges facing the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Dalby
- Centre for the Cellular Microenvironment, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Vanja Pekovic-Vaughan
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, William Henry Duncan Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Daryl P Shanley
- Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Joe Swift
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa J White
- School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, William Henry Duncan Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Janvier AJ, Pendleton EG, Mortensen LJ, Green DC, Henstock JR, Canty-Laird EG. Multimodal analysis of the differential effects of cyclic strain on collagen isoform composition, fibril architecture and biomechanics of tissue engineered tendon. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221130486. [PMID: 36339372 PMCID: PMC9629721 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221130486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Tendon is predominantly composed of aligned type I collagen, but additional isoforms are known to influence fibril architecture and maturation, which contribute to the tendon’s overall biomechanical performance. The role of the less well-studied collagen isoforms on fibrillogenesis in tissue engineered tendons is currently unknown, and correlating their relative abundance with biomechanical changes in response to cyclic strain is a promising method for characterising optimised bioengineered tendon grafts. In this study, human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured in a fibrin scaffold with 3%, 5% or 10% cyclic strain at 0.5 Hz for 3 weeks, and a comprehensive multimodal analysis comprising qPCR, western blotting, histology, mechanical testing, fluorescent probe CLSM, TEM and label-free second-harmonic imaging was performed. Molecular data indicated complex transcriptional and translational regulation of collagen isoforms I, II, III, V XI, XII and XIV in response to cyclic strain. Isoforms (XII and XIV) associated with embryonic tenogenesis were deposited in the formation of neo-tendons from hMSCs, suggesting that these engineered tendons form through some recapitulation of a developmental pathway. Tendons cultured with 3% strain had the smallest median fibril diameter but highest resistance to stress, whilst at 10% strain tendons had the highest median fibril diameter and the highest rate of stress relaxation. Second harmonic generation exposed distinct structural arrangements of collagen fibres in each strain group. Fluorescent probe images correlated increasing cyclic strain with increased fibril alignment from 40% (static strain) to 61.5% alignment (10% cyclic strain). These results indicate that cyclic strain rates stimulate differential cell responses via complex regulation of collagen isoforms which influence the structural organisation of developing fibril architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Janvier
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emily G Pendleton
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Luke J Mortensen
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daniel C Green
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK,The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - James R Henstock
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK,The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK,Elizabeth G Canty-Laird, Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, UK.
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK,Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Lee KJ, Rambault L, Bou-Gharios G, Clegg PD, Akhtar R, Czanner G, van ‘t Hof R, Canty-Laird EG. Collagen (I) homotrimer potentiates the osteogenesis imperfecta (oim) mutant allele and reduces survival in male mice. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:dmm049428. [PMID: 36106514 PMCID: PMC9555767 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The osteogenesis imperfecta murine (oim) model with solely homotrimeric (α1)3 type I collagen, owing to a dysfunctional α2(I) collagen chain, has a brittle bone phenotype, implying that the (α1)2(α2)1 heterotrimer is required for physiological bone function. Here, we comprehensively show, for the first time, that mice lacking the α2(I) chain do not have impaired bone biomechanical or structural properties, unlike oim homozygous mice. However, Mendelian inheritance was affected in male mice of both lines, and male mice null for the α2(I) chain exhibited age-related loss of condition. Compound heterozygotes were generated to test whether gene dosage was responsible for the less-severe phenotype of oim heterozygotes, after allelic discrimination showed that the oim mutant allele was not downregulated in heterozygotes. Compound heterozygotes had impaired bone structural properties compared to those of oim heterozygotes, albeit to a lesser extent than those of oim homozygotes. Hence, the presence of heterotrimeric type I collagen in oim heterozygotes alleviates the effect of the oim mutant allele, but a genetic interaction between homotrimeric type I collagen and the oim mutant allele leads to bone fragility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie J. Lee
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Lisa Rambault
- Département d'Informatique, Université de Poitiers, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France
| | - George Bou-Gharios
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Peter D. Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
- The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Riaz Akhtar
- Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
| | - Gabriela Czanner
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Rob van ‘t Hof
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Elizabeth G. Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
- The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
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Ali OJ, Ehrle A, Comerford EJ, Canty-Laird EG, Mead A, Clegg PD, Maddox TW. Intrafascicular chondroid-like bodies in the ageing equine superficial digital flexor tendon comprise glycosaminoglycans and type II collagen. J Orthop Res 2021; 39:2755-2766. [PMID: 33580534 DOI: 10.1002/jor.25002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is considered functionally equivalent to the human Achilles tendon. Circular chondroid depositions scattered amongst the fascicles of the equine SDFT are rarely reported. The purpose of this study was the detailed characterization of intrafascicular chondroid-like bodies (ICBs) in the equine SDFT, and the assessment of the effect of ageing on the presence and distribution of these structures. Ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging (9.4T) series of SDFT samples of young (1-9 years) and aged (17-25 years) horses were obtained, and three-dimensional reconstruction of ICBs was performed. Morphological evaluation of the ICBs included histology, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The number, size, and position of ICBs was determined and compared between age groups. There was a significant difference (p = .008) in the ICB count between young and old horses with ICBs present in varying number (13-467; median = 47, mean = 132.6), size and distribution in the SDFT of aged horses only. There were significantly more ICBs in the tendon periphery when compared with the tendon core region (p = .010). Histological characterization identified distinctive cells associated with increased glycosaminoglycan and type II collagen extracellular matrix content. Ageing and repetitive strain frequently cause tendon micro-damage before the development of clinical tendinopathy. Documentation of the presence and distribution of ICBs is a first step towards improving our understanding of the impact of these structures on the viscoelastic properties, and ultimately their effect on the risk of age-related tendinopathy in energy-storing tendons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Othman J Ali
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Anna Ehrle
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Eithne J Comerford
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.,The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ashleigh Mead
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
| | - Peter D Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.,The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas W Maddox
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
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5
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Allaith S, Tew SR, Hughes CE, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG, Comerford EJ. Characterisation of key proteoglycans in the cranial cruciate ligaments (CCLs) from two dog breeds with different predispositions to CCL disease and rupture. Vet J 2021; 272:105657. [PMID: 33941333 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cranial cruciate ligament disease and rupture (CCLD/R) is one of the most common orthopaedic conditions in dogs, eventually leading to osteoarthritis of the stifle joint. Certain dog breeds such as the Staffordshire bull terrier have an increased risk of developing CCLD/R. Previous studies into CCLD/R have found that glycosaminoglycan levels were elevated in cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tissue from high-risk breeds when compared to the CCL from a low-risk breed to CCLD/R. Our objective was to determine specific proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans in the CCL and to see whether their content was altered in dog breeds with differing predispositions to CCLD/R. Disease-free CCLs from Staffordshire bull terriers (moderate/high-risk to CCLD/R) and Greyhounds (low-risk to CCLD/R) were collected and key proteoglycan/glycosaminoglycans were determined by semi-quantitative Western blotting, quantitative biochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of fibromodulin (P = 0.03), aggrecan (P = 0.0003), and chondroitin-6-sulphate stubs (P = 0.01) were significantly increased, and for fibromodulin this correlated with an increase in protein content in Staffordshire bull terriers compared to Greyhound CCLs (P = 0.02). Decorin (P = 0.03) and ADAMTS-4 (P = 0.04) gene expression were significantly increased in Greyhounds compared to Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs. The increase of specific proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans within the Staffordshire bull terrier CCLs may indicate a response to higher compressive loads, potentially altering their risk to traumatic injury. The higher decorin content in the Greyhound CCLs is essential for maintaining collagen fibril strength, while the increase of ADAMTS-4 indicates a higher rate of turnover helping to regulate normal CCL homeostasis in Greyhounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Allaith
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), UK
| | - S R Tew
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), UK
| | - C E Hughes
- School of Biosciences, University of Cardiff, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF 10 3AX, UK
| | - P D Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), UK
| | - E G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), UK
| | - E J Comerford
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Leahurst Campus, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Chester High Rd, Neston CH64 7TE, UK; The Medical Research Council Versus Arthritis Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), UK.
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Turlo AJ, Mueller-Breckenridge AJ, Zamboulis DE, Tew SR, Canty-Laird EG, Clegg PD. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP6) is a cross-species tendon marker. Eur Cell Mater 2019; 38:123-136. [PMID: 31550047 DOI: 10.22203/ecm.v038a10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The main challenge in tendon injury management is suboptimal tissue healing that fails to re-establish original tendon function. Tissue bioengineering is a promising approach for tendon therapy, with potential to improve its functional outcomes. However, evaluation criteria for tissue-engineered tendon are unclear due to the lack of specific markers of differentiated tendon. The study aim was to identify a panel of genes that characterised tendons in comparison to cartilage or muscles and validate those genes, both in human and key species used as models for tendon diseases. Gene expression profiling of rat tendon and cartilage in whole-tissue samples and primary tenocytes and chondrocytes was undertaken using two independent microarray platforms. Genes that demonstrated high expression correlation across two assays were validated by qRT-PCR in rat tendon relative to cartilage and muscle. Five genes demonstrating the highest tendon-related expression in the validation experiment (ASPN, ECM1, IGFBP6, TNMD, THBS4) were further evaluated by qRT-PCR in ovine, equine and human tissue. The group of tendon markers, identified by unbiased transcriptomic analysis of rat musculoskeletal tissues, demonstrated species-dependent profiles of expression. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 (IGFBP6) was identified as the only universal tendon marker. Further investigation in equine tendon showed that IGFBP6 expression was not affected by ageing or tendon function but decreased in anatomical regions subjected to elevated compressive force. IGFBP6 is a robust cross-species marker of tendon phenotype and may find application in evaluation of tendon physiology and guided differentiation of permissive cells towards functional tenocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Turlo
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, L7 8TX Liverpool,
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7
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Lee KJ, Comerford EJ, Simpson DM, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG. Identification and Characterization of Canine Ligament Progenitor Cells and Their Extracellular Matrix Niche. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:1328-1339. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie J Lee
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom
| | - Eithne J Comerford
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah M Simpson
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Peter D Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Science, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston, CH64 7TE, United Kingdom
- The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom
- The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool L7 8TX, United Kingdom
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Kharaz YA, Canty-Laird EG, Tew SR, Comerford EJ. Variations in internal structure, composition and protein distribution between intra- and extra-articular knee ligaments and tendons. J Anat 2018; 232:943-955. [PMID: 29498035 PMCID: PMC5978954 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tendons and ligaments play key roles in the musculoskeletal system in both man and animals. Both tissues can undergo traumatic injury, age‐related degeneration and chronic disease, causing discomfort, pain and increased susceptibility to wider degenerative joint disease. To date, tendon and ligament ultrastructural biology is relatively under‐studied in healthy, non‐diseased tissues. This information is essential to understand the pathology of these tissues with regard to function‐related injury and to assist with the future development of tissue‐engineered tendon and ligament structures. This study investigated the morphological, compositional and extracellular matrix protein distribution differences between tendons and ligaments around the non‐diseased canine stifle joint. The morphological, structural characteristics of different regions of the periarticular tendons and ligaments (the intra‐articular anterior cruciate ligament, the extra‐articular medial collateral ligament, the positional long digital extensor tendon and energy‐storing superficial digital flexor tendons) were identified using a novel semi‐objective histological scoring analysis and by determining their biochemical composition. Protein distribution of extracellular matrix collagens, proteoglycans and elastic fibre proteins in anterior cruciate ligament and long digital extensor tendon were also determined using immunostaining techniques. The anterior cruciate ligament was found to have significant morphological differences in comparison with the other three tissues, including less compact collagen architecture, differences in cell nuclei phenotype and increased glycosaminoglycan and elastin content. Intra‐ and interobserver differences of histology scoring resulted in an average score 0.7, indicative of good agreement between observers. Statistically significant differences were also found in the extracellular matrix composition in terms of glycosaminoglycan and elastin content, being more prominent in the anterior cruciate ligament than in the other three tissues. A different distribution of several extracellular matrix proteins was also found between long digital extensor tendon and anterior cruciate ligament, with a significantly increased immunostaining of aggrecan and versican in the anterior cruciate ligament. These findings directly relate to the different functions of tendon and ligament and indicate that the intra‐articular anterior cruciate ligament is subjected to more compressive forces, reflecting an adaptive response to normal or increased loads and resulting in different extracellular matrix composition and arrangement to protect the tissue from damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalda A Kharaz
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon R Tew
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Eithne J Comerford
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK.,Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK
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9
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Ali OJ, Comerford EJ, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG, Canty-Laird EG. Variations during ageing in the three-dimensional anatomical arrangement of fascicles within the equine superficial digital flexor tendon. Eur Cell Mater 2018; 35:87-102. [PMID: 29437201 DOI: 10.22203/ecm.v035a07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BiTendons are constructed from collagenous fascicles separated by endotenon/interfascicular matrix (IFM). Tendons may be specialised for precision movement or to store energy during locomotion and for the latter the elasticity of the endotenon/IFM is particularly important. The equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is a dedicated energy-storing tendon with a similar function to the human Achilles tendon. Classical anatomical descriptions portray fascicles as longitudinally arranged distinct anatomical structures. In the present study, using three-dimensional reconstruction from whole tissue slices and histological sections, the fascicles of the equine SDFT were found to adopt a complex interweaved arrangement. Fascicles were found to fully and partially converge and diverge within the tendon and fascicle bundles were observed. Fascicle morphology was not homogenous with narrowing, broadening and twisted fascicles observed in addition to relatively straight fascicles. The number of fascicle bundles observed in cross-section increased from the proximal to the distal end of the tendon, whilst the number of fascicles decreased with age in the proximal region. Fascicular patterns were not similar between the left and right limbs, across different regions or at different ages. A decrease in thickness of the endotenon/IFM between fascicles with age was found in the distal tendon region. The results provide a rationale for considering fascicular organisation when diagnosing and treating tendon injuries, for bioengineering tendon and when modelling tendon function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - E G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX,
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Abstract
Complexities in degenerative disorders, such as osteoarthritis, arise from multiscale biological, environmental, and temporal perturbations. Animal models serve to provide controlled representations of the natural history of degenerative disorders, but in themselves represent an additional layer of complexity. Comparing transcriptomic networks arising from gene co-expression data across species can facilitate an understanding of the preservation of functional gene modules and establish associations with disease phenotypes. This study demonstrates the preservation of osteoarthritis-associated gene modules, described by immune system and system development processes, across human and rat studies. Class prediction analysis establishes a minimal gene signature, including the expression of the Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor ARHGDIB, which consistently defined healthy human cartilage from osteoarthritic cartilage in an independent data set. The age of human clinical samples remains a strong confounder in defining the underlying gene regulatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis; however, defining preserved gene models across species may facilitate standardization of animal models of osteoarthritis to better represent human disease and control for ageing phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan James Mueller
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX UK
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK, Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter D Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK, Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon R Tew
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK, Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
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Kharaz YA, Tew SR, Peffers M, Canty-Laird EG, Comerford E. Proteomic differences between native and tissue-engineered tendon and ligament. Proteomics 2017; 16:1547-56. [PMID: 27080496 PMCID: PMC5132062 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Tendons and ligaments (T/Ls) play key roles in the musculoskeletal system, but they are susceptible to traumatic or age‐related rupture, leading to severe morbidity as well as increased susceptibility to degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. Tissue engineering represents an attractive therapeutic approach to treating T/L injury but it is hampered by our poor understanding of the defining characteristics of the two tissues. The present study aimed to determine differences in the proteomic profile between native T/Ls and tissue engineered (TE) T/L constructs. The canine long digital extensor tendon and anterior cruciate ligament were analyzed along with 3D TE fibrin‐based constructs created from their cells. Native tendon and ligament differed in their content of key structural proteins, with the ligament being more abundant in fibrocartilaginous proteins. 3D T/L TE constructs contained less extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and had a greater proportion of cellular‐associated proteins than native tissue, corresponding to their low collagen and high DNA content. Constructs were able to recapitulate native T/L tissue characteristics particularly with regard to ECM proteins. However, 3D T/L TE constructs had similar ECM and cellular protein compositions indicating that cell source may not be an important factor for T/L tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalda A Kharaz
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK
| | - Simon R Tew
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK
| | - Mandy Peffers
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), Liverpool, UK
| | - Eithne Comerford
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK
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12
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Mueller AJ, Tew SR, Vasieva O, Clegg PD, Canty-Laird EG. A systems biology approach to defining regulatory mechanisms for cartilage and tendon cell phenotypes. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33956. [PMID: 27670352 PMCID: PMC5037390 DOI: 10.1038/srep33956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity of adult somatic cells has provided emerging avenues for the development of regenerative therapeutics. In musculoskeletal biology the mechanistic regulatory networks of genes governing the phenotypic plasticity of cartilage and tendon cells has not been considered systematically. Additionally, a lack of strategies to effectively reproduce in vitro functional models of cartilage and tendon is retarding progress in this field. De- and redifferentiation represent phenotypic transitions that may contribute to loss of function in ageing musculoskeletal tissues. Applying a systems biology network analysis approach to global gene expression profiles derived from common in vitro culture systems (monolayer and three-dimensional cultures) this study demonstrates common regulatory mechanisms governing de- and redifferentiation transitions in cartilage and tendon cells. Furthermore, evidence of convergence of gene expression profiles during monolayer expansion of cartilage and tendon cells, and the expression of key developmental markers, challenges the physiological relevance of this culture system. The study also suggests that oxidative stress and PI3K signalling pathways are key modulators of in vitro phenotypes for cells of musculoskeletal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Mueller
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health &Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom
| | - S R Tew
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health &Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)
| | - O Vasieva
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool, L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - P D Clegg
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health &Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)
| | - E G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health &Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, United Kingdom.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA)
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13
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Taylor SH, Yeung CYC, Kalson NS, Lu Y, Zigrino P, Starborg T, Warwood S, Holmes DF, Canty-Laird EG, Mauch C, Kadler KE. Matrix metalloproteinase 14 is required for fibrous tissue expansion. eLife 2015; 4:e09345. [PMID: 26390284 PMCID: PMC4684142 DOI: 10.7554/elife.09345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I collagen-containing fibrils are major structural components of the extracellular matrix of vertebrate tissues, especially tendon, but how they are formed is not fully understood. MMP14 is a potent pericellular collagenase that can cleave type I collagen in vitro. In this study, we show that tendon development is arrested in Scleraxis-Cre::Mmp14 lox/lox mice that are unable to release collagen fibrils from plasma membrane fibripositors. In contrast to its role in collagen turnover in adult tissue, MMP14 promotes embryonic tissue formation by releasing collagen fibrils from the cell surface. Notably, the tendons grow to normal size and collagen fibril release from fibripositors occurs in Col-r/r mice that have a mutated collagen-I that is uncleavable by MMPs. Furthermore, fibronectin (not collagen-I) accumulates in the tendons of Mmp14-null mice. We propose a model for cell-regulated collagen fibril assembly during tendon development in which MMP14 cleaves a molecular bridge tethering collagen fibrils to the plasma membrane of fibripositors. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09345.001 A scaffold of proteins called the extracellular matrix surrounds each of the cells that make up our organs and tissues. This matrix, which contains fibres made of proteins called collagens, provides the physical support needed to hold organs and tissues together. This support is especially important in the tendons—a tough tissue that connects the muscle to bone—and other ‘connective’ tissues. An enzyme called MMP14 is able to cut through chains of collagen proteins. It belongs to a family of proteins that are involved in breaking down the extracellular matrix to enable cells to divide and for other important processes in cells. Some cancer cells exploit MMP14 to enable them to leave their tissue of origin and spread around the body. Therefore, when researchers bred mutant mice that lacked MMP14, they expected to see excessive growth of collagen fibres in the connective tissues of the mice. However, these mice actually have extremely thin, fragile connective tissue and die soon after birth. Earlier in 2015, a group of researchers demonstrated that the first stage of tendon development in mice involves the formation of collagen fibres, which are attached to structures that project from tendon cells called fibripositors. Then, soon after the mice are born, the fibripositors disappear and the collagen fibres are released into the extracellular matrix where they grow longer and become thicker. Now, Taylor, Yeung, Kalson et al.—including some of the researchers from the earlier work—have used electron microscopy to investigate how a lack of MMP14 leads to fragile tendons in young mice. The experiments show that MMP14 plays a crucial role in the first stage of tendon development by detaching the collagen fibres from the fibripositors. MMP14 also promotes the formation of new collagen fibres; the tendons of mutant mice that lack MMP14 have fewer collagen fibres than normal mice. Further experiments revealed that the release of collagen fibres from fibripositors does not require MMP14 to cleave the chains of collagen proteins themselves. Instead, it appears that MMP14 cleaves another protein that is associated with the fibres, called fibronectin. Taylor, Yeung, Kalson et al.'s findings show that MMP14 plays an important role in the development of tendons by releasing collagen fibres from fibripositors and promoting the formation of new fibres. The next challenge is to find out how MMP14 regulates the number of collagen fibres in mature tendons and other tissues, and how defects in this enzyme can lead to cancer and other diseases. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09345.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan H Taylor
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ching-Yan Chloé Yeung
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas S Kalson
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Yinhui Lu
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Paola Zigrino
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Starborg
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stacey Warwood
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David F Holmes
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Cornelia Mauch
- Department of Dermatology, Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Karl E Kadler
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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14
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Yeung CYC, Zeef LAH, Lallyett C, Lu Y, Canty-Laird EG, Kadler KE. Chick tendon fibroblast transcriptome and shape depend on whether the cell has made its own collagen matrix. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13555. [PMID: 26337655 PMCID: PMC4559659 DOI: 10.1038/srep13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Collagen- and fibrin-based gels are extensively used to study cell behaviour. However, 2D–3D and collagen-fibrin comparisons of gene expression, cell shape and mechanotransduction, with an in vivo reference, have not been reported. Here we compared chick tendon fibroblasts (CTFs) at three stages of embryonic development with CTFs cultured in collagen- or fibrin-based tissue engineered constructs (TECs). CTFs synthesised their own collagen matrix in fibrin-based TECs and better recapitulated the gene expression, collagen fibril alignment and cell shape seen in vivo. In contrast, cells in 3D collagen gels exhibited a 2D-like morphology and expressed fewer of the genes expressed in vivo. Analysis of YAP/TAZ target genes showed that collagen gels desensitise mechanotransduction pathways. In conclusion, gene expression and cell shape are similar on plastic and 3D collagen whereas cells in 3D fibrin have a shape and transcriptome better resembling the in vivo situation. Implications for wound healing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Yan Chloé Yeung
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
| | - Leo A H Zeef
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
| | - Chloe Lallyett
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
| | - Yinhui Lu
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth G Canty-Laird
- Department of Musculoskeletal Biology, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.,The MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA), United Kingdom
| | - Karl E Kadler
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom.,Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom
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15
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Reynard LN, Bui C, Canty-Laird EG, Young DA, Loughlin J. Expression of the osteoarthritis-associated gene GDF5 is modulated epigenetically by DNA methylation. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:3450-60. [PMID: 21642387 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
GDF5 is involved in synovial joint development, maintenance and repair, and the rs143383 C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the 5'UTR of GDF5 is associated, at the genome-wide significance level, with osteoarthritis susceptibility, and with other musculoskeletal phenotypes including height, congenital hip dysplasia and Achilles tendinopathy. There is a significant reduction in the expression of the disease-associated T allele relative to the C allele in synovial joint tissues, an effect influenced by a second SNP (rs143384, C/T) also within the 5'UTR. The differential allelic expression (DAE) imbalance of the C and T alleles of rs143383 varies intra- and inter-individually, suggesting that DAE may be modulated epigenetically. The C alleles of both SNPs form CpG dinucleotides that are potentially amenable to regulation by methylation. Here, we have examined whether DNA methylation regulates GDF5 expression and the allelic imbalance caused by rs143383. We observed methylation of the GDF5 promoter and 5'UTR in cell lines and joint tissues, with demethylation correlating with increased GDF5 expression. The CpG sites created by the C alleles at rs143383 and rs143384 were variably methylated, and treatment of a heterozygous cell line with a demethylating agent further increased the allelic expression imbalance between the C and T alleles. This demonstrates that the genetic effect of the rs143383 SNP on GDF5 expression is modulated epigenetically by DNA methylation. The variability in DAE of rs143383 is therefore partly accounted for by differences in DNA methylation that could influence the penetrance of this allele in susceptibility to common musculoskeletal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise N Reynard
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, 4th Floor Catherine Cookson Building, The Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
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16
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Kalson NS, Holmes DF, Kapacee Z, Otermin I, Lu Y, Ennos RA, Canty-Laird EG, Kadler KE. An experimental model for studying the biomechanics of embryonic tendon: Evidence that the development of mechanical properties depends on the actinomyosin machinery. Matrix Biol 2010; 29:678-89. [PMID: 20736063 PMCID: PMC3611596 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2010.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2010] [Revised: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 08/17/2010] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Tendons attach muscles to bone and thereby transmit tensile forces during joint movement. However, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that establish the mechanical properties of tendon has remained elusive because of the practical difficulties of studying tissue mechanics in vivo. Here we have performed a study of tendon-like constructs made by culturing embryonic tendon cells in fixed-length fibrin gels. The constructs display mechanical properties (toe-linear-fail stress-strain curve, stiffness, ultimate tensile strength, and failure strain) as well as collagen fibril volume fraction and extracellular matrix (ECM)/cell ratio that are statistically similar to those of embryonic chick metatarsal tendons. The development of mechanical properties during time in culture was abolished when the constructs were treated separately with Triton X-100 (to solubilise membranes), cytochalasin (to disassemble the actin cytoskeleton) and blebbistatin (a small molecule inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II). Importantly, these treatments had no effect on the mechanical properties of the constructs that existed prior to treatment. Live-cell imaging and (14)C-proline metabolic labeling showed that blebbistatin inhibited the contraction of the constructs without affecting cell viability, procollagen synthesis, or conversion of procollagen to collagen. In conclusion, the mechanical properties per se of the tendon constructs are attributable to the ECM generated by the cells but the improvement of mechanical properties during time in culture was dependent on non-muscle myosin II-derived forces.
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Key Words
- cvf, cell volume fraction, the fraction of the construct occupied by cells
- ecm, extracellular matrix
- ecmt, embryonic chick metatarsal tendon
- em, electron microscopy
- facs, fluorescence activated cell sorting
- fvf, fibril volume fraction, the fraction of the construct occupied by collagen fibrils
- nmmii, non-muscle myosin ii
- pbs, phosphate buffered saline
- bio-artificial tendon
- collagen
- elasticity
- electron microscopy
- extracellular matrix
- myosin
- fibril
- fibrin
- tension
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S. Kalson
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - David F. Holmes
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Zoher Kapacee
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Iker Otermin
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Yinhui Lu
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Roland A. Ennos
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Elizabeth G. Canty-Laird
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Karl E. Kadler
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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17
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Berry R, Jowitt TA, Ferrand J, Roessle M, Grossmann JG, Canty-Laird EG, Kammerer RA, Kadler KE, Baldock C. Role of dimerization and substrate exclusion in the regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-1 and mammalian tolloid. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:8561-6. [PMID: 19429706 PMCID: PMC2689009 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812178106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-1/tolloid metalloproteinases are evolutionarily conserved enzymes that are fundamental to dorsal-ventral patterning and tissue morphogenesis. The lack of knowledge regarding how these proteinases recognize and cleave their substrates represents a major hurdle to understanding tissue assembly and embryonic patterning. Although BMP-1 and mammalian tolloid (mTLD) are splice variants, it is puzzling why BMP-1, which lacks 3 of the 7 noncatalytic domains present in all other family members, is the most effective proteinase. Using a combination of single-particle electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and other biophysical measurements in solution, we show that mTLD, but not BMP-1, forms a calcium-ion-dependent dimer under physiological conditions. Using a domain deletion approach, we provide evidence that EGF2, which is absent in BMP-1, is critical to the formation of the dimer. Based on a combination of structural and functional data, we propose that mTLD activity is regulated by a substrate exclusion mechanism. These results provide a mechanistic insight into how alternative splicing of the Bmp1 gene produces 2 proteinases with differing biological activities and have broad implications for regulation of BMP-1/mTLD and related proteinases during BMP signaling and tissue assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Berry
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Jowitt
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Johanna Ferrand
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Roessle
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory-Hamburg Outstation, c/o Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron, 22603 Hamburg, Germany; and
| | - J. Günter Grossmann
- Synchrotron Radiation Department, Council for Central Laboratory of the Research Councils, Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington WA4 4AD, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth G. Canty-Laird
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A. Kammerer
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Karl E. Kadler
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Clair Baldock
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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18
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Kadler KE, Hill A, Canty-Laird EG. Collagen fibrillogenesis: fibronectin, integrins, and minor collagens as organizers and nucleators. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2008; 20:495-501. [PMID: 18640274 PMCID: PMC2577133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2008.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 472] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2008] [Revised: 06/24/2008] [Accepted: 06/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Collagens are triple helical proteins that occur in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and at the cell–ECM interface. There are more than 30 collagens and collagen-related proteins but the most abundant are collagens I and II that exist as D-periodic (where D = 67 nm) fibrils. The fibrils are of broad biomedical importance and have central roles in embryogenesis, arthritis, tissue repair, fibrosis, tumor invasion, and cardiovascular disease. Collagens I and II spontaneously form fibrils in vitro, which shows that collagen fibrillogenesis is a selfassembly process. However, the situation in vivo is not that simple; collagen I-containing fibrils do not form in the absence of fibronectin, fibronectin-binding and collagen-binding integrins, and collagen V. Likewise, the thin collagen II-containing fibrils in cartilage do not form in the absence of collagen XI. Thus, in vivo, cellular mechanisms are in place to control what is otherwise a protein self-assembly process. This review puts forward a working hypothesis for how fibronectin and integrins (the organizers) determine the site of fibril assembly, and collagens V and XI (the nucleators) initiate collagen fibrillogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl E Kadler
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
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