Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Rd, Shanghai, 200233, China.
Ann Biomed Eng. 2024 Apr;52(4):920-933. doi: 10.1007/s10439-023-03429-1. Epub 2024 Jan 8.
This study aimed to compare the histological, biochemical, and mechanical characteristics of hyaline cartilage in different regions and evaluate the potential of chondrocytes extracted from each region as donor sources for articular cartilage repair. The cartilage tissues of the femoral head and knee joint, ribs, nasal septum, thyroid, and xiphoid process of adult Bama pigs were isolated for histological, biochemical, and mechanical evaluation and analysis. The corresponding chondrocytes were isolated and evaluated for proliferation and redifferentiation capacity, using biochemical and histological analysis and RT-PCR experiments. Compared with articular cartilage, non-articular hyaline cartilage matrix stained more intensely in Safranin-O staining. Glycosaminoglycan and total collagen content were similar among all groups, while the highest content was measured in nasal septal cartilage. Regarding biomechanics, non-articular cartilage is similar to articular cartilage, but the elastic modulus and hardness are significantly higher in the middle region of costal cartilage. The chondrocytes extracted from different regions had no significant difference in morphology. Hyaline cartilage-like pellets were formed in each group after redifferentiation. The RT-PCR results revealed similar expressions of cartilage-related genes across the groups, albeit with lower expression of Col2 in the xiphoid chondrocytes. Conversely, higher expression of Col10 was observed in the chondrocytes from the rib, thyroid, and xiphoid cartilage. This study provides valuable preclinical data for evaluating heterotopic hyaline cartilage and chondrocytes for articular cartilage regeneration. The findings contribute to the selection of chondrocyte origins and advance the clinical translation of technology for cartilage regeneration.
本研究旨在比较不同部位透明软骨的组织学、生化和力学特性,并评估从每个部位提取的软骨细胞作为关节软骨修复供体的潜力。分离成年巴马猪股骨头和膝关节、肋骨、鼻中隔、甲状腺和剑突的软骨组织,进行组织学、生化和力学评估和分析。分离相应的软骨细胞,通过生化和组织学分析以及 RT-PCR 实验评估其增殖和再分化能力。与关节软骨相比,非关节透明软骨基质在番红 O 染色中染色更深。各组糖胺聚糖和总胶原含量相似,而鼻中隔软骨含量最高。就生物力学而言,非关节软骨与关节软骨相似,但肋软骨中部的弹性模量和硬度明显更高。从不同部位提取的软骨细胞在形态上没有明显差异。各组在再分化后均形成类似透明软骨的小球。RT-PCR 结果显示,各组软骨相关基因的表达相似,但胸骨软骨细胞中 Col2 的表达较低,而肋骨、甲状腺和胸骨软骨细胞中的 Col10 表达较高。本研究为评估异位透明软骨和软骨细胞用于关节软骨再生提供了有价值的临床前数据。这些发现有助于选择软骨细胞来源,并推进软骨再生技术的临床转化。