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The glycosaminoglycans of articular cartilage in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease (chondrocalcinosis articularis or pyrophosphate arthropathy)

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Abstract

The glycosaminoglycans of articular cartilage in 4 patients with CPPD crystal-deposition disease and 13 controls were fractionated on CPC-cellulose and ECTEOLA-cellulose columns. No difference in the total amount of hexosamines was found between the two groups. An increase in the relative concentration of keratan sulphate and a decrease of the ratio of 4 sulphated and 6-sulphated chondroitin sulphate were encountered in the patient group. Solubility profiles of chondroitin sulphate showed an increase in subfractions representing low molecular weight and/or sulphate content in CPPD crystal-deposition disease. On the other hand, the solubility profiles of keratan sulphate indicated high molecular weight and/or sulphate content in the diseased cartilage. These chemical changes might partly be a result of impaired metabolism of the glycosaminoglycans concomitant with, and possibly also preceding, crystal deposition. The changes are different from those found in osteoarthrosis and from normally mineralizing cartilage.

Résumé

Les glycosaminoglycanes du cartilage articulaire de 4 patients, atteints de la maladie de dépot de cristaux CPPD, et de 13 sujets témoins sont fractionnés sur des colonnes de CPC cellulose et ECTEOLA-cellulose. Aucune différence dans la quantité totale d'hexosamines n'a été trouvée dans les deux groupes. Une augmentation de la concentration relative de sulfate de kératane et une décroissance du rapport chondroitine sulfate 4-sulfate et 6-sulfate sont observées chez les sujets atteints. Les courbes de solubilité du chondroitine sulfate sont en augmentation dans les subfractions de faible poids moléculaire et/ou contenant du sulfate dans la maladie de dépot des cristaux CPPD. Les courbes de solubilité du kératane sulfate indiquent un contenu de poids moléculaire élevé et/ou en sulfate dans le cartilage pathologique. Ces modifications cliniques peuvent être partiellement dues à un trouble métabolique des glycosaminoglycanes, contemporain ou précédant le dépot du cristal. Les altérations sont différentes de celles observées au cours de l'ostéoarthrite et dans le cartilage normal en voie de minéralisation.

Zusammenfassung

Die Glycosaminoglycane aus Gelenkknorpel von 4 Patienten mit der CPPD (Calcium-Pyrophosphat-Dihydrat)-Kristallablagerunskrankheit und von 13 Kontrollen wurden in CPC-Cellulose- und ECTEOLA-Cellulose-Säulen fraktioniert. Die beiden Gruppen zeigten keinen Unterschied in der Gesamtmenge der Hexosamine. In der Patientengruppe stellte man eine Zunahme der relativen Konzentration von Keratansulfat und eine Abnahme des Chondroitin-4-Sulfat/Chondroitin-6-Sulfat-Verhältnisses fest. Bei der CPPD-Kristallablagerungskrankheit zeigten die Löslichkeitsprofile von Chondroitinsulfat eine Zunahme an Subfraktionen mit einem niederen Molekulargewicht und/oder einem niederen Sulfatgehalt. Andererseits deuteten die Löslichkeitsprofile von Keratansulfat auf hohes Molekulargewicht und/oder hohen Sulfatgehalt im kranken Knorpel. Diese chemischen Veränderungen könnten zum Teil das Ergebnis eines geschädigten Stoffwechsels der Glycosaminoglycane sein und könnten mit der Kristallablagerung einhergehen oder möglicherweise schon vor der Ablagerung eintreten. Die Veränderungen unterscheiden sich von denjenigen in der Osteoarthrose und von normal mineralisierendem Knorpel.

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Abbreviations

CPPD:

calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate

CPC:

cetylpyridinium chloride

EDTA:

disodium ethylenediamin-tetra-acetic acid

ChS:

chondroitin sulphate

KS:

keratan sulphate

CP:

glycoprotein

HA:

hyaluronic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiological Chemistry II, University of Lund, Lund

    A. O. Bjelle

  2. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, S-220 05, Lund, Sweden

    A. O. Bjelle

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  1. A. O. Bjelle
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Bjelle, A.O. The glycosaminoglycans of articular cartilage in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease (chondrocalcinosis articularis or pyrophosphate arthropathy). Calc. Tis Res. 12, 37–46 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013720

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013720

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