Material and mechanical properties of bones deficient for fibrillin-1 or fibrillin-2 microfibrils.

ABSTRACT: The contribution of non-collagenous components of the extracellular matrix to bone strength is largely undefined. Here we report that deficiency of fibrillin-1 or fibrillin-2 microfibrils causes distinct changes in bone material and mechanical properties. Morphometric examination of mice with hypomorphic or null mutations in fibrillin-1 or fibrillin-2, respectively, revealed appreciable differences in the postnatal shaping and growth of long bones. Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy indicated that fibrillin-1 plays a predominantly greater role than fibrillin-2 in determining the material properties of bones. Biomechanical tests demonstrated that fibrillin-2 exerts a greater positive influence on the mechanical properties of bone than fibrillin-1 assemblies. Published evidence

SUBMITTER: Arteaga-Solis E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3097426 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature