Blanco F J, Guitian R, Vázquez-Martul E, de Toro F J, Galdo F
Complejo Hospitalario Juan Canalejo, La Coruña, Spain.
Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Feb;41(2):284-9. doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199802)41:2<284::AID-ART12>3.0.CO;2-T.
To determine which kind of cell death occurs in cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis (OA).
Seven normal and 16 OA cartilage samples were collected at autopsy or during joint replacement surgery, respectively. A piece of cartilage was cryopreserved until histologic studies were done. The rest of the cartilage was used to isolate chondrocytes. Apoptotic chondrocytes were analyzed by light and fluorescence microscopy using nuclear 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride stain. Apoptotic chondrocytes were quantified by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. The TUNEL technique was used to study histologic apoptosis in situ. Superficial cartilage was processed for ultrastructural study by electron microscopy.
OA chondrocytes displayed nuclear and cytoplasmic changes consistent with apoptotic cell death. FACS analysis showed that the OA cartilage had a higher proportion of apoptotic chondrocytes than did normal tissue (51% versus 11%; P < 0.01). In situ study of DNA fragmentation in the cartilage showed that apoptotic cells were located in the superficial and middle zones. Ultrastructural analysis of the superficial OA cartilage revealed some empty lacunae, lysosomal-like structures, matrix vesicle-like structures, fragmented chondrocytes, and nuclear condensation.
Chondrocytes in OA cartilage demonstrated morphologic changes that are characteristic features of apoptosis. This mechanism of cell death plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OA and could be targeted for new treatment strategies.
确定骨关节炎（OA）患者软骨中发生哪种类型的细胞死亡。
分别在尸检或关节置换手术期间收集7份正常软骨样本和16份OA软骨样本。取一块软骨进行冷冻保存，直至完成组织学研究。其余软骨用于分离软骨细胞。使用核4',6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚二盐酸盐染色，通过光学显微镜和荧光显微镜分析凋亡软骨细胞。通过荧光激活细胞分选仪（FACS）分析对凋亡软骨细胞进行定量。采用TUNEL技术原位研究组织学凋亡。对表层软骨进行电子显微镜超微结构研究。
OA软骨细胞表现出与凋亡性细胞死亡一致的细胞核和细胞质变化。FACS分析显示，OA软骨中凋亡软骨细胞的比例高于正常组织（51%对11%；P<0.01）。软骨中DNA片段化的原位研究表明，凋亡细胞位于表层和中层区域。表层OA软骨的超微结构分析显示一些空的软骨陷窝、溶酶体样结构、基质小泡样结构、破碎的软骨细胞和核浓缩。
OA软骨中的软骨细胞表现出凋亡的形态学特征性变化。这种细胞死亡机制在OA发病机制中起重要作用，可作为新治疗策略的靶点。
