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Proliferative remodeling of the spatial organization of human superficial chondrocytes distant from focal early osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT: Human superficial chondrocytes show distinct spatial organizations, and they commonly aggregate near osteoarthritic (OA) fissures. The aim of this study was to determine whether remodeling or destruction of the spatial chondrocyte organization might occur at a distance from focal (early) lesions in patients with OA.Samples of intact cartilage (condyles, patellofemoral groove, and proximal tibia) lying distant from focal lesions of OA in grade 2 joints were compared with location-matched nondegenerative (grade 0-1) cartilage samples. Chondrocyte nuclei were stained with propidium iodide, examined by fluorescence microscopy, and the findings were recorded in a top-down view. Chondrocyte arrangements were tested for randomness or significant grouping via point pattern analyses (Clark and Evans Aggregation Index) and were correlated with the OA grade and the surface cell densities.In grade 2 cartilage samples, superficial chondrocytes were situated in horizontal patterns, such as strings, clusters, pairs, and singles, comparable to the patterns in nondegenerative cartilage. In intact cartilage samples from grade 2 joints, the spatial organization included a novel pattern, consisting of chondrocytes that were aligned in 2 parallel lines, building double strings. These double strings correlated significantly with an increased number of chondrocytes per group and an increased corresponding superficial zone cell density. They were observed in all grade 2 condyles and some grade 2 tibiae, but never in grade 0-1 cartilage.This study is the first to identify a distinct spatial reorganization of human superficial chondrocytes in response to distant early OA lesions, suggesting that proliferation had occurred distant from focal early OA lesions. This spatial reorganization may serve to recruit metabolically active units as an attempt to repair focal damage.

SUBMITTER: Rolauffs B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2945301 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Proliferative remodeling of the spatial organization of human superficial chondrocytes distant from focal early osteoarthritis.

Rolauffs Bernd B Williams James M JM Aurich Matthias M Grodzinsky Alan J AJ Kuettner Klaus E KE Cole Ada A AA

Arthritis and rheumatism 20100201 2

<h4>Objective</h4>Human superficial chondrocytes show distinct spatial organizations, and they commonly aggregate near osteoarthritic (OA) fissures. The aim of this study was to determine whether remodeling or destruction of the spatial chondrocyte organization might occur at a distance from focal (early) lesions in patients with OA.<h4>Methods</h4>Samples of intact cartilage (condyles, patellofemoral groove, and proximal tibia) lying distant from focal lesions of OA in grade 2 joints were compa ...[more]

PMID: 20112377

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Project description:Aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) constitute a heterogeneous population involved in the maintenance of unique valvular architecture, ensuring proper hemodynamic function but also engaged in valve degeneration. Recently, cells similar to telocytes/interstitial Cajal-like cells described in various organs were found in heart valves. The aim of this study was to examine the density, distribution, and spatial organization of a VIC subset co-expressing CD34 and PDGFR? in normal aortic valves and to investigate if these cells are associated with the occurrence of early signs of valve calcific remodeling. We examined 28 human aortic valves obtained upon autopsy. General valve morphology and the early signs of degeneration were assessed histochemically. The studied VICs were identified by immunofluorescence (CD34, PDGFR?, vimentin), and their number in standardized parts and layers of the valves was evaluated. In order to show the complex three-dimensional structure of CD34+/PDGFR?+ VICs, whole-mount specimens were imaged by confocal microscopy, and subsequently rendered using the Imaris (Bitplane AG, Zürich, Switzerland) software. CD34+/PDGFR?+ VICs were found in all examined valves, showing significant differences in the number, distribution within valve tissue, spatial organization, and morphology (spherical/oval without projections; numerous short projections; long, branching, occasionally moniliform projections). Such a complex morphology was associated with the younger age of the subjects, and these VICs were more frequent in the spongiosa layer of the valve. Both the number and percentage of CD34+/PDGFR?+ VICs were inversely correlated with the age of the subjects. Valves with histochemical signs of early calcification contained a lower number of CD34+/PDGFR?+ cells. They were less numerous in proximal parts of the cusps, i.e., areas prone to calcification. The results suggest that normal aortic valves contain a subpopulation of CD34+/PDGFR?+ VICs, which might be involved in the maintenance of local microenvironment resisting to pathologic remodeling. Their reduced number in older age could limit the self-regenerative properties of the valve stroma.

Dataset Information

Proliferative remodeling of the spatial organization of human superficial chondrocytes distant from focal early osteoarthritis.

Publications

Proliferative remodeling of the spatial organization of human superficial chondrocytes distant from focal early osteoarthritis.

Similar Datasets

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