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Immunohistological study on collagen in cartilage-bone metamorphosis and degenerative osteoarthrosis

Immunhistologische Untersuchungen an Kollagen bei der Knorpel-, Knochenumwandlung und in der degenerativen Osteoarthrose

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Zusammenfassung

Unter Verwendung von spezifischen Antikörpern ist es möglich, mit Hilfe immunhistologischer Methoden die Verteilung der verschiedenen Kollagentypen und auch die Kollagensynthese einzelner Zellen zu verfolgen. Diese Methode wurde angewendet, um die Kollagensynthese von Chondrocyten im normalen Gelenkknorpel, Epiphysenknorpel der Wachstumsplatte, osteoarthrotischen Gelenkknorpel, sowie unter in vitro Kulturbedingungen zu verfolgen. Während im normalen Knorpel nur Typ II Kollagen synthetisiert wird, wurde festgestellt, daß die hypertrophierenden großen Chondrocyten an der Basis des Säulenknorpels auf die Synthese des Typ I Kollagens umschalten. Ähnliches gilt auch für die arthrotischen Zellen des Gelenkknorpels. Hier führt die Degeneration zu einer Umschaltung der Kollagensynthese von Typ II auf Typ I Kollagen. Dieses Phänomen kann auch in vitro nachvollzogen werden. In Suspensionskulturen, in denen Chondrocyten in Aggregaten eine knorpelähnliche Matrix aufzubauen vermögen, vollzieht sich der Umschaltungsprozeß langsamer als in Monolayerkulturen.

Diese Beobachtungen zeigen, daß Chondrocyten zur Aufrechterhaltung ihrer Typ II Kollagensynthese eine spezielle Zell-Matrix-Wechselwirkung benötigen. Wird durch eine Veränderung der Knorpelmatrix (z.B. bei dem Degenerationsprozeß der Osteoarthrose) diese Wechselbeziehung gestört, kommt es zu einer Neuorientierung der Kollagensynthese und — in deren Folge — zur Umschaltung auf Typ I Kollagen.

Summary

Synthesis of collagen by chondrocytes was studied by immunofluorescence using antibodies specific for type I, II and III collagen. The following tissues and culture conditions were chosen for this immunohistological study: normal articular cartilage, epiphyseal growth cartilage, cartilage undergoing osteoarthrotic degeneration, suspension culture and monolayer culture. While type II collagen is the unique collagen all over hyaline cartilage, type I collagen is produced by hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. In addition, chondrocytes in osteoarthrotic areas of articular cartilage synthesize type I collagen. Under in vitro culture conditions, chondrocytes initially produce type II collagen and synthesize later on type I collagen. The change of synthesis from type II to type I collagen is more rapid in monolayer than in suspension culture. It is concluded that the presence of matrix compounds and the cellmatrix interaction as well are necessary to maintain synthesis of type II collagen in chondrocytes. Alterations in the cell-matrix interactions are shown to occur in the hypertrophic zone of the epiphyseal growth plate, in cartilage undergoing osteoarthrotic degeneration as well as in chondrocytes grown in culture. Thus, change in the control of gene activity may subsequently lead to change in collagen synthesis. It is possible that the synthesis of type I collagen, which cannot fulfil the physiological function of a structural element in cartilageneous tissue, is a crucial factor in the process of osteoarthrosis.

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Abbreviations

EDTA:

Ethylendiaminetetraacetate

FITC:

Fluoresceine isothiocyanate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Abteilung Bindegewebsforschung, Pathologisches Institut, Orthopädische Klinik und Poliklinik der Universität München, Germany

    S. Gay, P. K. Müller, C. Lemmen, K. Remberger, K. Matzen & K. Kühn

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  1. S. Gay
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  2. P. K. Müller
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  3. C. Lemmen
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  4. K. Remberger
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  5. K. Matzen
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  6. K. Kühn
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Mu 378/4, Re 388/1 and SFB 51

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Gay, S., Müller, P.K., Lemmen, C. et al. Immunohistological study on collagen in cartilage-bone metamorphosis and degenerative osteoarthrosis. Klin Wochenschr 54, 969–976 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01468947

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