Static Compressive Loading Reduces the mRNA Expression of Type II and X Collagen in Rat Growth-Plate Chondrocytes During Postnatal Growth

The mechanisms by which chondrocytes modulate longitudinal bone growth are not well understood. This in vitro study investigated the effects of loading on the mRNA expression pattern of key molecular components of the growth-plate related to the extracellular matrix (type II and type X collagen) and the PTH-PTHrP feedback loop. Short-term static compressive loading was applied to rat proximal tibial growth-plate explants. Four age groups at specific developmental stages were investigated. The spatial variation in the mRNA expression was compared among loaded explants, their contralateral sham controls, and uncultured growth plates from normal animals. Basic cell metabolism (18S rRNA) was unaffected by load. Results indicated a narrower spatial distribution of mRNA expression of type II collagen throughout the growth plate; similarly, a narrowed distribution of expression of type X collagen was noted in the lower hypertrophic zone of the growth-plate. This suggests that mechanical compression influences chondrocytes of the hypertrophic zone to alter their expression of specific genes encoding proteins of the extracellular matrix, while PTH-PTHrP receptor mRNA, a regulatory protein, remained unaffected by loading. The effects of compression were similar at the different stages of growth, suggesting that additional factors may be involved in the clinical progression of skeletal deformities observed during growth spurts. Although this study was done in vitro and limited to static loading, it furthers our understanding of growth-plate mechanobiology as a first step toward providing a scientific rationale for treating progressive musculoskeletal deformities.     

电磁辐射对软骨的生物学效应研究进展

作为半刚性的、无血管和神经的结缔组织,软骨具有承重、应力缓冲和辅助运动等多种生理功能。软骨固有的修复能力差,损伤不易逆转且治疗难度大。近年来,大量研究结果显示适宜的电磁辐射对软骨细胞形态的维持及其细胞因子的分泌、软骨细胞外基质的稳态以及骨关节炎的治疗等都具有积极的意义。笔者就电磁辐射对软骨的生物学效应及其可能的作用机制作一综述。     

宝乐果提取物8,9-糖基化环烯醚萜苷促进人软骨细胞增殖和抑制凋亡的作用

目的观察宝乐果(Borojo)提取物8,9-糖基化环烯醚萜苷(GIG)对体外培养的人骨关节炎软骨细胞促进增殖和抑制细胞凋亡的作用。方法体外培养人骨关节炎软骨细胞,进行软骨细胞鉴定。用不同浓度(25、50、100、200、400μg/ml)的8,9-糖基化环烯醚萜苷培养人骨关节炎软骨细胞,用硫酸酚嗪甲酯(MTS)法、5-乙炔基-2脱氧尿嘧啶核苷(EdU)法、平板克隆形成实验检测细胞的增殖、流式细胞术观察软骨细胞凋亡,用丙二醛(MDA)法、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)检测、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)检测观察软骨细胞氧化酶的活性,用Western bolt法检测凋亡相关蛋白表达。结果与对照组相比,随GIG浓度增加,细胞活力升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);细胞核分裂增加,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);细胞克隆数量增多,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);细胞周期的S期延长,细胞增殖活跃细胞凋亡率减少;MDA含量下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。SOD含量升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);GSH-Px含量升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 GIG可能对软骨细胞具有增殖的作用,而且在观察浓度内,细胞毒性小,并可抑制细胞凋亡,提示其有潜在能力可能成为治疗骨关节炎的一种策略。     

Roles of CCN2 as a mechano-sensing regulator of chondrocyte differentiation

Cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) is a cysteine-rich secreted matricellular protein that regulates various cellular functions including cell differentiation. CCN2 is highly expressed under several types of mechanical stress, such as stretch, compression, and shear stress, in mesenchymal cells including chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts. In particular, CCN2 not only promotes cell proliferation and differentiation of various cells but also regulates the stability of mRNA of TRPV4, a mechanosensitive ion channel in chondrocytes. Of note, CCN2 behaves like a biomarker to sense suitable mechanical stress, because CCN2 expression is down-regulated when chondrocytes are subjected to excessive mechanical stress. These findings suggest that CCN2 is a mechano-sensing regulator. CCN2 expression is regulated by the activation of various mechano-sensing signaling pathways, e.g., mechanosensitive ion channels, integrin-focal adhesion-actin dynamics, Rho GTPase family members, Hippo-YAP signaling, and G protein-coupled receptors. This review summarizes the characterization of mechanoreceptors involved in CCN2 gene regulation and discusses the role of CCN2 as a mechano-sensing regulator of mesenchymal cell differentiation, with particular focus on chondrocytes.     

小鼠脐带间充质干细胞的体外诱导分化

目的分离扩增小鼠脐带间充质干细胞（mouse umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,mUCMSCs）探讨其是否可诱导成软骨、脂肪和成骨细胞。方法 通过贴壁培养法将mUCMSCs体外分离、扩增、纯化,倒置显微镜下观察细胞的形态特征,运用流式细胞仪检测分析细胞的抗原标志表达进行鉴定。运用诱导培养液对分离的mUCMSCs分别定向诱导培养为软骨、脂肪和成骨细胞。结果 运用组织贴块培养法可从新鲜脐带中分离到贴壁生长的成纤维样细胞,这些细胞高表达CD29、CD90和CD105,低表达CD34。成软骨诱导后阿新兰染色呈蓝色;成脂诱导后油红O染色,出现红色脂滴;茜红素染色成骨诱导的mUCMSC,可见红色结节。结论 贴壁培养法分离培养所获得的mUCMSCs在体外可诱导分化为软骨、脂肪和成骨细胞。     

Biosynthesis of collagen I,II, RUNX2 and lubricin at different time points of chondrogenic differentiation in a 3D in vitro model of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue

The first aim of the study was to identify the most appropriate time for differentiation of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to chondrocytes, through the self-assembly process. For this purpose, the expression of some chondrocyte markers, such as collagen type I, collagen type II, RUNX2 and lubricin was investigated at different times (7, 14, 21 and 28 days) of chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs, by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The second aim of the study was to demonstrate that the expression of lubricin, such as the expression of collagen type II, could be a possible biomarker for the detection of chondrocytes well-being and viability in the natural self-assembling constructs, called ‘cell pellets’. Histology (hematoxylin and eosin) and histochemistry (alcian blue staining) methods were used to assess the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. The results showed that after 21 days the differentiated chondrocytes, when compared with MSCs cultured without chondrogenic medium (CD44, CD90 and CD105 positive; CD45, CD14 and CD34 negative), were able to produce significant quantities of collagen type I, collagen type II, and lubricin, suggesting hyaline cartilage formation. During the differentiation phase, the cells showed a reduced expression of RUNX2, a protein expressed by osteoblasts. Our studies demonstrated that 21 days is the optimum time for the implantation of chondrocytes differentiated from adipose tissue-derived MSCs. This information could be useful for the future development of cell-based repair therapies for degenerative diseases of articular cartilage.     

软骨细胞接种小孔径聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物支架的方法选择

目的 探讨软骨细胞接种小孔径聚乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物(PLGA)支架的最佳接种方法. 方法 实验分3组(n=9):注射组、负压组、振荡组,取纤维蛋白原溶液混悬第2代软骨细胞,采用上述3种方法对孔隙率为92％、孔径为50 ～ 100 μm的PLGA支架进行细胞接种.48 h后,Hoechst33258法检测支架内DNA含量;接种并观察支架内含异硫氰酸荧光素的无细胞纤维蛋白原凝胶的分布;硬组织切片、4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)染色观察支架内细胞分布.7d后,扫描电镜观察支架表面及内部的细胞形态.各组部分支架(n=3)植入裸鼠皮下,以无细胞PLGA支架为空白对照组,术后8周取出支架行甲苯胺蓝、Ⅱ型胶原免疫组织化学染色,并计算累积吸光度(IOD)值. 结果 注射组、负压组、振荡组平均DNA含量分别为(755.79±80.50)、(657.32±89.68)、(650.18±106.33)ng/mg,各组比较差异均无统计学意义(F=1.214,P=0.361).无细胞纤维蛋白凝胶在各组中都均匀分布,DAPI染色显示注射组细胞分布较其他两组均匀.扫描电镜显示负压组和振荡组外周细胞较注射组多,而支架孔隙内仅注射组可见细胞黏附.注射组甲苯胺蓝、Ⅱ型胶原免疫组织化学染色的IOD值均优于其他3组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 对于50 ～ 100 μm的小孑L径PLGA支架,注射法是一种快捷、高效的细胞接种方法.     

Yes相关蛋白通过Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调控软骨细胞Sox9表达的研究

目的研究Yes相关蛋白（Yes?associated protein, YAP）通过Wnt/β?catenin信号通路调控软骨细胞Sox9表达的机制。方法用siRNA分别沉默YAP基因和Lats1基因来调控YAP的活性,通过Real?time PCR检测软骨特异性基因和Wnt/β?catenin信号通路下游基因的表达;通过Western Blot检测GSK3β的磷酸化水平、活化β?catenin的蛋白水平以及Sox9的蛋白水平;并通过阿利新蓝染色检测软骨细胞外基质的分泌情况。用siRNA沉默YAP基因后,再用氯化锂干预细胞,通过Western Blot检测Sox9的表达和GSK3β的磷酸化水平。结果沉默YAP基因后,磷酸化GSK3β和活化β?catenin的蛋白水平减少,c?Myc和Nanog基因表达减少,Sox9、Col2和Aggrecan基因表达升高,并且软骨细胞分泌基质增多;沉默Lats1基因后,磷酸化GSK3β和活化β?catenin的蛋白水平增加,c?Myc和Nanog基因表达上调,Sox9、Col2和Aggre?can基因表达减少,并且软骨细胞分泌基质减少。此外,氯化锂可以阻断沉默YAP引起的Sox9表达上调。结论 YAP通过Wnt/β?catenin信号通路调控软骨细胞Sox9的表达。     

自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原治疗剥脱性膝骨软骨炎

目的探讨自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎的疗效。 方法选取近5年来在青岛市黄岛区中心医院采用自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎的患者12例,用单因素方差分析评估术前与术后6个月、12个月国际膝关节文献委员会(IKDC)膝关节评估表、Lysholm膝关节功能评分。术后12个月磁共振成像(MRI)评估软骨修复情况。 结果12例患者术后6个月、12个月的IKDC评分分别为(83.7±5.6)、(91.7±3.7),Lysholm评分分别为(87.5±5.2)、(93.6±2.1),均较术前IKDC评分(53.9±6.7)(F＝158.877)、Lysholm评分(59.1±7.2)(F＝104.258)明显改善(均为P<0.05);每2个时间点之间的IKDC评分、Lysholm评分,差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。术后12个月MRI检查显示,所有患者的移植软骨恢复良好,均未出现移植物脱落或局部水肿。术后随访期内,所有患者均未出现膝关节感染。 结论自体软骨细胞联合Ⅰ型胶原蛋白三维支架能有效治疗膝关节剥脱性骨软骨炎。