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Singh A, Mantebea H, Badar F, Batool S, Abdelmessih G, Sebastian T, Newton M, Baker K, Salem S, Xia Y. Assessment of articular cartilage degradation in response to an impact injury using µMRI. Connect Tissue Res 2024; 65:146-160. [PMID: 38415672 PMCID: PMC10994738 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2024.2319050] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Degradation of articular cartilage (AC) due to injury to the knee joint may initiate post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Failure to diagnose the onset of the disease at an early stage makes the cure ineffective for PTOA. This study investigated the consequences of a mechanical injury to the knee in a rabbit model using microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (µMRI) at high resolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mechanical injury was induced to the knee joints of 12 rabbits. Cartilage blocks were extracted from the non-impacted and impacted knee joints after 2 and 14 weeks post-impact. The specimens were studied using µMRI T2 relaxation and inductively coupled plasma analysis to determine the early degradation of the articular cartilage. RESULTS The data established a connection between T2 relaxation time and the early progression of knee PTOA after an impact injury. T2 values were found to be higher in the impacted cartilage at both 2 and 14 weeks, in particular, T2-55° values in the impacted samples displayed a significant rise of 6.93% after 2 weeks and 20.02% after 14 weeks. Lower glycosaminoglycan measurement and higher water content in the impacted cartilage confirmed the µMRI results. CONCLUSIONS This µMRI T2 study was able to detect cartilage damage in the impacted knees. In addition, greater degradation in the affected knees at 14 weeks than at 2 weeks indicated the progressive nature of cartilage deterioration over time. The µMRI results were in accord with the biochemical analysis, indicating the detection of early structural damage in the cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanveer Singh
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | - Hannah Mantebea
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | - Farid Badar
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | - Syeda Batool
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | | | - Talia Sebastian
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | - Michael Newton
- Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Kevin Baker
- Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073
- Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202
| | - Sarah Salem
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
| | - Yang Xia
- Department of Physics and Center for Biomedical Research, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309
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Liu J, Liao Z, Wang J, Xiang H, Zhu X, Che X, Tang Y, Xie J, Mao C, Zhao H, Xiong Y. Research on skeletal muscle impact injury using a new rat model from a bioimpact machine. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1055668. [PMID: 36452210 PMCID: PMC9701740 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1055668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Skeletal muscle impact injury occurs frequently during sports, falls, and road traffic accidents. From the reported studies on skeletal muscle injury, it is difficult to determine the injury parameters. Therefore, we developed a new model of gastrocnemius impact injury in rats with a bioimpact machine, with which the experimental operation could be conducted in feasibility from the recorded parameters. Through this novel model, we study the skeletal muscle impact injury mechanisms by combining temporal and spatial variation. Methods: The gastrocnemius of anesthetized rats was injured by a small pneumatic-driven bioimpact machine; the moving speed and impact force were determined, and the whole impact process was captured by a high-speed camera. We observed the general condition of rats and measured the changes in injured calf circumference, evaluating calf injuries using MRI, gait analysis system, and pathology at different times after the injury. Results: The gastrocnemius was injured at an impact speed of 6.63 m/s ± 0.25 m/s and a peak force of 1,556.80 N ± 110.79 N. The gait analysis system showed that the footprint area of the RH limb decreased significantly on the first day and then increased. The calf circumference of the injured limb increased rapidly on the first day post-injury and then decreased in the next few days. MRI showed edema of subcutaneous and gastrocnemius on the first day, and the area of edema decreased over the following days. HE staining showed edema of cells, extensive hyperemia of blood vessels, and infiltration of inflammatory cells on the first day. Cell edema was alleviated day by day, but inflammatory cell infiltration was the most on the third day. TEM showed that the sarcoplasmic reticulum was dilated on the first day, the mitochondrial vacuolation was obvious on the second day, and the glycogen deposition was prominent on the fifth day. Conclusion: In our experiment, we developed a new and effective experimental animal model that was feasible to operate; the injured area of the gastrocnemius began to show "map-like" changes in the light microscope on the third day. Meanwhile, the gastrocnemius showed a trend of "edema-mitochondrial vacuolation-inflammatory cell aggregation" after impact injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhikang Liao
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingkun Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyi Xiang
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiyan Zhu
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingping Che
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuqian Tang
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingru Xie
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chengyi Mao
- Department of Pathology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Institute for Traffic Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Xiong
- Department of Orthopedics, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Sun Z, Zheng X, Li S, Zeng B, Yang J, Ling Z, Liu X, Wei F. Single Impact Injury of Vertebral Endplates Without Structural Disruption, Initiates Disc Degeneration Through Piezo1 Mediated Inflammation and Metabolism Dysfunction. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2022; 47:E203-E213. [PMID: 34431832 PMCID: PMC8815838 DOI: 10.1097/brs.0000000000004203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN In vitro experimental study. OBJECTIVE To establish an axial impact injury model of intervertebral disc (IVD) and to investigate if a single impact injury without endplate structural disruption could initiate intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), and what is the roles of Piezo1 in this process. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Although IDD process has been confirmed to be associated with structural failures such as endplate fractures, whether a single impact injury of the endplates without structural disruption could initiate IDD remains controversial. Previous studies reported that Piezo1 mediated inflammation participated in the progression of IDD induced by mechanical stretch; however, the roles of Piezo1 in IVD impact injury remain unknown. METHODS Rats spinal segments were randomly assigned into Control, Low, and High Impact groups, which were subjected to pure axial impact loading using a custom-made apparatus, and cultured for 14 days. The degenerative process was investigated by using histomorphology, real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR), western-blot, immunofluorescence, and energy metabolism of IVD cell. The effects of Piezo1 were investigated by using siRNA transfection, real-time PCR, western-blot, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The discs in both of the impact groups presented degenerative changes after 14 days, which showed significant up-regulation of Piezo1, NLRP3 inflammasome, the catabolic (MMP-9, MMP-13), and pro-inflammatory gene (IL-1β) expression than that of the control group (P < 0.05), accompanied by significantly increased release of ATP, lactate, nitric oxide (NO), and glucose consumption of IVD cells at first 7 days. Silencing Piezo1 reduced the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression in the nucleus pulposus induced by impact injury. CONCLUSION It demonstrated that not only fracture of the endplate but also a single impact injury without structural impairment could also initiate IDD, which might be mediated by activation of Piezo1 induced inflammation and abnormal energy metabolism of IVD cells.Level of Evidence: N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengang Sun
- Department of Spine Surgery, Qingdao West Coast New Area Central Hospital of Binzhou Medical College, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinfeng Zheng
- Department of Clinic of Spine Center, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Songbo Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Dongguan People's Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Baozhu Zeng
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiaming Yang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zemin Ling
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the first Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xizhe Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the first Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuxin Wei
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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Genemaras AA, Ennis H, Bradshaw B, Kaplan L, Huang CYC. Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Agents on Expression of Early Responsive Inflammatory and Catabolic Genes in Ex Vivo Porcine Model of Acute Knee Cartilage Injury. Cartilage 2018; 9:293-303. [PMID: 29986604 PMCID: PMC6042029 DOI: 10.1177/1947603516684589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Early intervention therapies targeting inflammation and cell death during the acute phase of cartilage injury have the potential to prevent posttraumatic osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of interleukin receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), hyaluronan (HA), dexamethasone (DEX), and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment on the expression of established genetic markers for matrix degradation, apoptosis, and inflammation in articular cartilage during the acute phase of injury. Design A custom impact device was used to create replicable injury ex vivo to intact porcine knee joint. One hour after impact, IRAP, HA, DEX, or MSCs was intra-articularly injected. At 8 hours postinjury, cartilage and meniscus samples were harvested for genetic expression analysis. Expression of miR-27b, miR-140, miR-125b, miR-16, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-22, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP-3, IL-1β, and TNF-α was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results At 8 hours postinjury, expression of ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP-3, IL-1β, and TNF-α in cartilage was significantly decreased in IRAP- and DEX-treated joints as compared to nontreated injured joints, whereas only IRAP upregulated expression of miR-140, miR-125b, miR-27b, miR-146a, and miR-22 in cartilage. HA and MSC treatments had no significant effects on catabolic and inflammatory gene expression in cartilage. However, HA treatment significantly upregulated expression of all miRNAs except miR-16. In addition, the treatments tested also exhibited significant influences on meniscus. Conclusions This study provides a valuable starting point for further research into potential targets for and efficacy of various early intervention strategies that may delay or prevent the progression of posttraumatic osteoarthritis after acute cartilage injury.
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MESH Headings
- ADAMTS4 Protein/drug effects
- ADAMTS4 Protein/genetics
- ADAMTS5 Protein/drug effects
- ADAMTS5 Protein/genetics
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents/metabolism
- Cartilage, Articular/drug effects
- Cartilage, Articular/injuries
- Cartilage, Articular/metabolism
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cells, Cultured/metabolism
- Chondrocytes/drug effects
- Chondrocytes/metabolism
- Dexamethasone/administration & dosage
- Dexamethasone/therapeutic use
- Gene Expression
- Hyaluronic Acid/administration & dosage
- Hyaluronic Acid/therapeutic use
- Inflammation/metabolism
- Injections, Intra-Articular/methods
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/drug effects
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/genetics
- Meniscus/drug effects
- Meniscus/metabolism
- Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods
- MicroRNAs/genetics
- Models, Animal
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/genetics
- Osteoarthritis, Knee/prevention & control
- Receptors, Interleukin/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Interleukin/therapeutic use
- Swine
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/drug effects
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaris A. Genemaras
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Hayley Ennis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Brad Bradshaw
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Lee Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
- Department of Orthopedics, Division of
Sports Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - C.-Y. Charles Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering,
College of Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Vernon LL, Vance DD, Wang L, Rampersaud E, Vance JM, Pericak-Vance M, Huang CYC, Kaplan LD. Regional Differential Genetic Response of Human Articular Cartilage to Impact Injury. Cartilage 2016; 7:163-73. [PMID: 27047639 PMCID: PMC4797239 DOI: 10.1177/1947603515618483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Normal physiological movement creates different weightbearing zones within a human knee: the medial condyle bearing the highest and the trochlea bearing the lowest weight. Adaptation to different physiological loading conditions results in different tissue and cellular properties within a knee. The objective of this study was to use microarray analysis to examine gene expression differences among three anatomical regions of human knee articular cartilage at baseline and following induction of an acute impact injury. DESIGN Cartilage explants were harvested from 7 cadaveric knees (12 plugs per knee). A drop tower was utilized to introduce injury. Plugs were examined 24 hours after impact for gene expression using microarray. The primary analysis is the comparison of baseline versus impacted samples within each region separately. In addition, pairwise comparisons among the three regions were performed at baseline and after impact. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to evaluate significance of differential gene expression. RESULTS In the comparison of before and after injury, the trochlear had 130 differentially expressed genes (FDR ≤ 0.05) while the condyles had none. In the comparison among regions, smaller sets of differentially expressed genes (n ≤ 21) were found, with trochlea being more different than the condyles. Most of more frequently expressed genes in trochlea are developmental genes. CONCLUSIONS Within the experimental setup of this study, only the trochlea was displaying an acute genetic response on injury. Our data demonstrated the regional-specific response to injury in human articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L. Vernon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA,Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Danica D. Vance
- Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA,John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Liyong Wang
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Evadnie Rampersaud
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jeffery M. Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Margaret Pericak-Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - C.-Y. Charles Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Lee D. Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA,Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA,Lee D. Kaplan, Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami, 1400 NW 12th Avenue, First Floor Sports Medicine Clinic, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Abstract
Background: Altering the weight of baseballs for youth play has been studied out of concern for player safety. Research has shown that decreasing the weight of baseballs may limit the severity of both chronic arm and collision injuries. Unfortunately, reducing the weight of the ball also increases its exit velocity, leaving pitchers and nonpitchers with less time to defend themselves. The purpose of this study was to examine impact probability for pitchers and nonpitchers. Hypothesis: Reducing the available time to respond by 10% (expected from reducing ball weight from 142 g to 113 g) would increase impact probability for pitchers and nonpitchers, and players’ mean simple response time would be a primary predictor of impact probability for all participants. Study Design: Nineteen subjects between the ages of 9 and 13 years performed 3 experiments in a controlled laboratory setting: a simple response time test, an avoidance response time test, and a pitching response time test. Methods: Each subject performed these tests in order. The simple reaction time test tested the subjects’ mean simple response time, the avoidance reaction time test tested the subjects’ ability to avoid a simulated batted ball as a fielder, and the pitching reaction time test tested the subjects’ ability to avoid a simulated batted ball as a pitcher. Results: Reducing the weight of a standard baseball from 142 g to 113 g led to a less than 5% increase in impact probability for nonpitchers. However, the results indicate that the impact probability for pitchers could increase by more than 25%. Conclusion: Pitching may greatly increase the amount of time needed to react and defend oneself from a batted ball. Clinical Relevance: Impact injuries to youth baseball players may increase if a 113-g ball is used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip A Matta
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina
| | - Joseph B Myers
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Gregory S Sawicki
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Xie S, Zhou H. Forecasting impact injuries of unrestrained occupants in railway vehicle passenger compartments. Traffic Inj Prev 2014; 15:740-747. [PMID: 24224566 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2013.862590] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In order to predict the injury parameters of the occupants corresponding to different experimental parameters and to determine impact injury indices conveniently and efficiently, a model forecasting occupant impact injury was established in this work. METHODS The work was based on finite experimental observation values obtained by numerical simulation. First, the various factors influencing the impact injuries caused by the interaction between unrestrained occupants and the compartment's internal structures were collated and the most vulnerable regions of the occupant's body were analyzed. Then, the forecast model was set up based on a genetic algorithm-back propagation (GA-BP) hybrid algorithm, which unified the individual characteristics of the back propagation-artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model and the genetic algorithm (GA). The model was well suited to studies of occupant impact injuries and allowed multiple-parameter forecasts of the occupant impact injuries to be realized assuming values for various influencing factors. Finally, the forecast results for three types of secondary collision were analyzed using forecasting accuracy evaluation methods. RESULTS All of the results showed the ideal accuracy of the forecast model. When an occupant faced a table, the relative errors between the predicted and experimental values of the respective injury parameters were kept within ± 6.0 percent and the average relative error (ARE) values did not exceed 3.0 percent. When an occupant faced a seat, the relative errors between the predicted and experimental values of the respective injury parameters were kept within ± 5.2 percent and the ARE values did not exceed 3.1 percent. When the occupant faced another occupant, the relative errors between the predicted and experimental values of the respective injury parameters were kept within ± 6.3 percent and the ARE values did not exceed 3.8 percent. CONCLUSIONS The injury forecast model established in this article reduced repeat experiment times and improved the design efficiency of the internal compartment's structure parameters, and it provided a new way for assessing the safety performance of the interior structural parameters in existing, and newly designed, railway vehicle compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchao Xie
- a Key Laboratory of Traffic Safety on Track, Ministry of Education , Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , China
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Vernon L, Abadin A, Wilensky D, Huang CYC, Kaplan L. Subphysiological compressive loading reduces apoptosis following acute impact injury in a porcine cartilage model. Sports Health 2014; 6:81-8. [PMID: 24427447 PMCID: PMC3874225 DOI: 10.1177/1941738113504379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute cartilage injuries induce cell death and are associated with an increased incidence of osteoarthritis development later in life. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of posttraumatic cyclic compressive loading on chondrocyte viability and apoptosis in porcine articular cartilage plugs. HYPOTHESIS Compressive loading of acutely injured cartilage can maintain chondrocyte viability by reducing apoptosis after a traumatic impact injury. STUDY DESIGN In vitro controlled laboratory study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 5. METHODS Each experiment compared 4 test groups: control, impact, impact with compressive loading (either 0.5 or 0.8 MPa), and no impact but compressive loading (n = 15 per group). Flat, full-thickness articular cartilage plugs were harvested from the trochlear region of porcine knees. A drop tower was utilized to introduce an impact injury. The articular plugs were subjected to two 30-minute cycles of either 0.5 or 0.8 MPa of dynamic loading. Cell viability, apoptosis, and gene expression of samples were evaluated 24 hours postimpaction. RESULTS Cell viability staining showed that 0.5 MPa of dynamic compressive loading increased cell viability compared with the impact group. Apoptotic analysis revealed a decrease in apoptotic expression in the group with 0.5 MPa of dynamic compressive loading compared with the impact group. Significantly higher caspase 3 and lower collagen II expressions were observed in impacted samples without compressive loading, compared with those with. Compressive loading of nonimpacted samples significantly increased collagen II and decreased caspase 3 expressions. CONCLUSION In this porcine in vitro model, dynamic compressive loading at subphysiological levels immediately following impact injury decreases apoptotic expression, thereby maintaining chondrocyte viability. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Therapeutic exercises could be designed to deliver subphysiological loading to the injured cartilage, thereby minimizing injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Vernon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | - Andre Abadin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - David Wilensky
- Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida
| | - C.-Y. Charles Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
| | - Lee Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
- Division of Sports Medicine, UHealth Sports Performance and Wellness Institute, University of Miami Hospital, Miami, Florida
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine if acute cartilage impact damage could be predicted by a quantification of the frequency content of the impact force signal. DESIGN Osteochondral specimens excised from bovine lateral tibial plateaus were impacted with one of six impact energies. Each impact force signal underwent frequency analysis, with the amount of higher-frequency content (percent of frequency spectrum above 1 KHz) being registered. Specimens were histologically evaluated to assess acute structural damage (articular surface cracking and cartilage crushing) resulting from the impact. RESULTS Acute histologic structural damage to the cartilage had higher concordance with the high-frequency content measure than with other mechanical impact measures (delivered impact energy, impact maximum stress, and impact maximum stress rate of change). CONCLUSIONS This result suggests that the frequency content of an impact force signal, specifically the proportion of higher-frequency components, can be used as a quick surrogate measure for acute structural cartilage injury. Taking advantage of this relationship could reduce the time and expense of histological processing needed to morphologically assess cartilage damage, especially for purposes of initial screening when evaluating new impaction protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneliese D. Heiner
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - James A. Martin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Todd O. McKinley
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jessica E. Goetz
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Thomas D. Brown
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Impact injury to articular cartilage can lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis. HYPOTHESES This study tests the hypotheses that (1) chondrocyte injury occurs after impact at energies insufficient to fracture the cartilage surface, and that (2) cartilage injury patterns vary with impact energy, time after injury, and cartilage thickness. STUDY DESIGN Controlled laboratory study. METHODS Fresh bovine osteochondral cores were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) 0.35 J, (3) 0.71 J, (4) 1.07 J, and (5) 1.43 J impact energies. Cores were subjected to computer-controlled impact loading and full-thickness sections were then prepared and incubated in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium/F12 at 37 degrees C. Adjacent sections were harvested 1 and 4 days after impact for viability staining and fluorescent imaging. The area of dead and living chondrocytes was quantified using custom image analysis software and reported as a percentage of total cartilage area. RESULTS The highest impact energy fractured the cartilage in all cores (1.43 J, n = 17). Seventy-three percent and 64% of the osteochondral cores remained intact after lower energy impacts of 0.71 J and 1.07 J, respectively. At lower energy levels, fractured cores were thinner (P <.01) than those remaining intact. In cores remaining intact after impact injury, chondrocyte death increased with increasing impact energy (P <.05) and with greater time after impact (P <.05). A progressive increase in dead cells near the bone/cartilage interface and at the articular surface was observed. CONCLUSION These data showing progressive chondrocyte death after impact injury at energies insufficient to fracture the cartilage surface demonstrate a potential need for early chondroprotective therapy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE These data show that efforts to reduce chondrocyte morbidity after joint injury may be a useful strategy to delay or prevent the onset of posttraumatic osteoarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Szczodry
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Christian H. Coyle
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Scott J. Kramer
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Patrick Smolinski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Constance R. Chu
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,Address correspondence to Constance R. Chu, MD, Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, E1640 Biomedical Science Tower, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 ()
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