Dataset Information

Localisation-dependent variations in articular cartilage ECM: implications for tissue engineering and cartilage repair

ABSTRACT: Articular cartilage (AC) is a specialised connective tissue covering joint surfaces. It enables smooth movement, distributes mechanical loads, and protects the underlying bone. In re-sponse to loading, AC adapts by modifying both its thickness and composition. AC is or-ganised in different zones, with low cellularity and a high abundance of extracellular ma-trix (ECM). Mechanical overloading or immobilisation can lead to structural changes, po-tentially resulting in osteoarthritis (OA), for which no causal treatment currently exists. However, smaller defects can be treated using chondrocyte/cartilage transplantation or tissue engineering. A better understanding of the molecular composition of AC at different locations is essential to improve such therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, we per-formed a comprehensive analysis of porcine femoral knee cartilage at eight defined ana-tomical sites. Cartilage thickness and proteoglycan (PG) content were analysed histologi-cally, while specific ECM proteins were assessed by proteomics and validated by im-munohistochemistry and Western blot. Significant differences were identified, particularly between medial and lateral compartments, in terms of cartilage thickness, PG abundance, and ECM composition. Some proteins also showed zone-specific localisation patterns. These structural differences likely reflect adaptation to mechanical loading and should be considered to optimise future cartilage repair and tissue engineering strategies.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Sus Scrofa Domesticus (domestic Pig)

TISSUE(S): Cartilage

SUBMITTER: Luisa Marie Schmidt

LAB HEAD: Frank Zaucke

PROVIDER: PXD068032 | Pride | 2025-10-15

REPOSITORIES: Pride

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Dataset's files

Source:

			Action	DRS
	AGZ_pigA_01_Slot1-01_1_1929.d.zip	Other
	AGZ_pigA_01_Slot1-01_1_2010.d.zip	Other
	AGZ_pigA_02_Slot1-02_1_1921.d.zip	Other
	AGZ_pigA_02_Slot1-02_1_2002.d.zip	Other
	AGZ_pigA_03_Slot1-03_1_1927.d.zip	Other

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Project description:Successfully replacing damaged cartilage with tissue-engineered constructs requires integration with the host tissue and could benefit from leveraging the native tissue's intrinsic healing capacity; however, efforts are limited by a poor understanding of how cartilage repairs minor defects. Here, we investigated the conditions that foster natural cartilage tissue repair to identify strategies that might be exploited to enhance the integration of engineered/ grafted cartilage with host tissue. We damaged porcine articular cartilage explants and using a combination of pulsed SILAC-based proteomics, ultrastructural imaging, and catabolic enzyme blocking strategies reveal that integration of damaged cartilage surfaces is not driven by neo-matrix synthesis, but rather local depletion of proteoglycans. ADAMTS4 expression and activity are upregulated in injured cartilage explants, but integration could be reduced by inhibiting metalloproteinase activity with TIMP3. These observations suggest that catabolic enzyme-mediated proteoglycan depletion likely allows existing collagen fibrils to undergo cross-linking, fibrillogenesis, or entanglement, driving integration. Catabolic enzymes are often considered pathophysiological markers of osteoarthritis. Our findings suggest that damage-induced upregulation of metalloproteinase activity may be a part of a healing response that tips towards tissue destruction under pathological conditions and in osteoarthritis, but could also be harnessed in tissue engineering strategies to mediate repair. Statement of significance: Cartilage tissue engineering strategies require graft integration with the surrounding tissue; however, how the native tissue repairs minor injuries is poorly understood. We applied pulsed SILACbased proteomics, ultrastructural imaging, and catabolic enzyme blocking strategies to a porcine cartilage explant model and found that integration of damaged cartilage surfaces is driven by catabolic enzyme-mediated local depletion of proteoglycans. Although catabolic enzymes have been implicated in cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis, our findings suggest that damage-induced upregulation of metalloproteinase activity may be a part of a healing response that tips towards tissue destruction under pathological conditions. They also suggest that this natural cartilage tissue repair process could be harnessed in tissue engineering strategies to enhance the integration of engineered cartilage with host tissue.

Project description:Fetal cartilage fully regenerates following injury while in adult mammals cartilage injury leads to osteoarthritis (OA). OA is characterized by cartilage breakdown and joint inflammation and associated with significant pain and socioeconomic costs. As no clinically satisfactory treatment is available to date, disease-modifying therapies aimed to achieve cartilage regeneration are urgently required. The inherent regeneration potential of fetal individuals may hold answers to this unmet need. Therefore, to characterize the differences in fetal and adult response to cartilage injury, we carried out histology and comprehensive proteome analyses on fetal (day 80/150-day gestation) and adult cartilage samples one (fetal samples) and three (adult and fetal samples) days after surgical induction of a full-thickness cartilage lesion. In addition, proteins secreted by inflamed fetal MSCs in vitro were compared with the in vivo response to injury to evaluate their therapeutic potential. Histology of synovial samples revealed the presence of neutrophils one day post injury (p.i.) and an influx of macrophages into the subsynovial tissue on day 3 p.i. in fetal samples. In contrast, adult synovial samples showed invasion of neutrophils on day 3 p.i. Activation and migration of Iba1+- macrophages of the synovial lining was observed both in fetal and adult animals. Comparative mass spectrometry revealed 57 proteins significantly up-regulated (> 2FC, FDR<0.05), and 67 proteins significantly down-regulated (<-2 FC) upon injury in adults. Neutrophil-related proteins and acute phase proteins were the two major upregulated protein groups in adult cartilage following injury compared to fetal sheep. In contrast, several immunomodulating proteins and growth factors were significantly higher expressed in the fetus than the adult. Comparison of the in vitro MSCs with the in vivo fetal proteome revealed shared upregulation of 17 proteins, which were considered to be of potential therapeutic interest. The results of this study support our molecular understanding of successful fetal cartilage healing and new therapeutic strategies to induce regeneration in adult articular cartilage by modulating the inflammatory environment. The shared protein upregulation in fetal cartilage in vivo and in fetal MSCS during in vitro inflammation supports the possible therapeutic potential of these factors in specific and fetal MSCs in general.

Project description:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex degenerative joint disease, which is not only a cartilage but also a bone disease. A better understanding of the early molecular mechanism changes of subchondral bone in vivo may contribute to elucidating the pathogenesis of OA. We used microarray technology to investigate the time-course molecular changes of subchondral bone just beneath damaged cartilage in early stage of experimental osteoarthritis, and found 2,234 differentially expressed (DE) genes at 1 week, 1,944 at 2 weeks and 1,517 at 4 weeks postsurgery.Further analysis of dysregulated genes indicated that subchondral bone remodeling occurred sequentially and in a time-dependent manner at the gene expression level. Some known dysregulated genes suspected roles in influencing bone development or bone remodeling, such as Alp, Igf1, Tgf M-NM-21, Postn, Mmp3, Tnfsf11, Acp5, Bmp5, Aspn and Ihh, were confirmed by real-time PCR, and results indicated that our microarray data could accurately reflect gene expression patterns of early OA. Subsequently, to validate the results of our microarray analysis at protein level, immunohistochemistry staining was introduced to investigate the translational level of genes Mmp3 and Aspn in tissue sections, and results showed that the level of Mmp3 protein expression was totally matched the results of microarray and real-time PCR analysis. Nevertheless, the expression of Aspn protein was not observed differentially expressed at any time point. Ninety 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 300-325g, were used in the study. Animals were equally divided into two groups: experimental group (E-Group) and sham-operated group (S-Group). The E-Group rats underwent open surgery, involved in both medial meniscectomy and medial collateral ligament (MCL) transaction with micro-scissors. The S-Group rats were carried out with a sham operation, via a similar incision, without operations of the medial meniscus and the medial collateral ligament.Animals were killed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postsurgery, and 15 animals were put into use per-timepoint in each treatment group. 5 animals were used for histological analysis and immunohistochemistry, and others were used for microarray study and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis equally at each timepoint.

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Localisation-dependent variations in articular cartilage ECM: implications for tissue engineering and cartilage repair

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