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An experimental study of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) in the rabbit menisci

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Abstract

Introduction

Secondary knee osteoarthritis (OA) is currently associated with meniscal injuries, but the pathogenesis is unclear. We analyzed the distribution of cells and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and its changes in the early stages of degeneration in meniscus.

Method

Ten New Zealand rabbits underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-transection of the right knee-joint. Left knee-joints were used as controls. The animals were killed at 4 and 12 weeks. Gross injuries in meniscus and articular cartilage were scored. Meniscal tissues were immunostained with a specific antibody against COMP, with Ki-67, using TUNEL-assay and alcian blue stain. The number of cells was counted.

Results

At 4 weeks post-ACL-transection, 2/5 of the operated knees showed articular damages and medial menisci tears. Menisci showed a weak increase of cells, higher in cells under division and an increase of apoptosis, COMP and proteoglycans.

At 12 weeks, 5/5 of the medial menisci and 2/5 of lateral menisci presented tears, and osteoarthritic changes were seen in the cartilage of all the operated knees. Meniscal cells reverted to normal number, while active cell division decreased below normal, apoptotic events were still high, COMP remained elevated, and glycosaminoglycans were even more elevated.

Conclusion

Extracellular matrix changes and altered cell distribution occur early in the degenerative meniscus. There is a close relationship between changes in the articular cartilage and the menisci at the onset of secondary OA.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Carmen Gómez-Guerrero and Guadalupe Ortiz-Muñoz for the excellent technical assistance in histological aspects of the study. The research complied with national legislation and with the National Institute of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Conflict of interest

The authors did not receive payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Infanta Sofia Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    Mariano López-Franco

  2. Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammation, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    O. López-Franco

  3. Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Hospital Sur de Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Mariano López-Franco & M. A. Murciano-Antón

  4. Spanish National Research Centre, Comparative Unit Pathology, Madrid, Spain

    M. Cañamero-Vaquero

  5. Rheumatology Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    G. Herrero-Beaumont

  6. Pathologic Anatomy Department, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain

    M. J. Fernández-Aceñero

  7. Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    E. Gómez-Barrena

  8. Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital Infanta Sofía, Paseo de Europa, 34, 28702, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain

    Mariano López-Franco

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  1. Mariano López-Franco
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Correspondence to Mariano López-Franco.

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López-Franco, M., López-Franco, O., Murciano-Antón, M.A. et al. An experimental study of COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein) in the rabbit menisci. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 131, 1167–1176 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1332-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1332-3

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