Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging

Abstract Using two-dimensional top-down view microscopy, researchers have recently described chondrocytes as being spatially arranged in distinct patterns such as strings, double strings, and small and large clusters. Because of the seeming association of these changes with tissue degeneration, they...

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Main Authors: Marina Danalache, Kevin Ralf Beutler, Bernd Rolauffs, Julius Michael Wolfgart, Florian Christof Bonnaire, Stefan Fischer, Imke Greving, Ulf Krister Hofmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89582-w
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spelling doaj-1639485ef297488cbcc2c013107d06602021-05-09T11:34:02ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-05-0111111110.1038/s41598-021-89582-wExploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imagingMarina Danalache0Kevin Ralf Beutler1Bernd Rolauffs2Julius Michael Wolfgart3Florian Christof Bonnaire4Stefan Fischer5Imke Greving6Ulf Krister Hofmann7Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of TübingenMedical Faculty of the University of TübingenG.E.R.N. Tissue Replacement, Regeneration and Neogenesis, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center - Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of FreiburgMedical Faculty of the University of TübingenDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of TübingenDepartment of Evolutionary Biology of Invertebrates, University of TübingenInstitute of Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum GeesthachtDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of TübingenAbstract Using two-dimensional top-down view microscopy, researchers have recently described chondrocytes as being spatially arranged in distinct patterns such as strings, double strings, and small and large clusters. Because of the seeming association of these changes with tissue degeneration, they have been proposed as an image-based biomarker for early osteoarthritis (OA) staging. The aim of our study was to investigate the spatial arrangement of chondrocytes in human articular cartilage in a 3D fashion and to evaluate the 3D changes of these patterns in the context of local tissue destruction. Decalcified femoral condyle resections from the load-bearing area were analysed in 3D for their spatial chondrocyte organisation by means of fluorescence microscopy and synchrotron-radiation micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). In intact cartilage chondrocyte strings can be found in the superficial, transitional and deep zones. The proposed pattern changes accompanying tissue destruction could be located not just along the surface but also through all layers of cartilage. Each spatial pattern was characterised by a different cellular density (the only exception being between single and double strings with p = 0.062), with cellular density significantly increasing alongside the increase in local tissue degeneration as defined by the chondrocyte patterns. We can thus corroborate that the proposed cellular spatial changes are a three-dimensional function of local tissue degeneration, underlining their relevance as an image-based biomarker for the early diagnosis and description of OA. Clinical trial registration number: Project number of the ethics committee of the University of Tübingen:171/2014BO2.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89582-w
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Marina Danalache
Kevin Ralf Beutler
Bernd Rolauffs
Julius Michael Wolfgart
Florian Christof Bonnaire
Stefan Fischer
Imke Greving
Ulf Krister Hofmann
spellingShingle Marina Danalache
Kevin Ralf Beutler
Bernd Rolauffs
Julius Michael Wolfgart
Florian Christof Bonnaire
Stefan Fischer
Imke Greving
Ulf Krister Hofmann
Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
Scientific Reports
author_facet Marina Danalache
Kevin Ralf Beutler
Bernd Rolauffs
Julius Michael Wolfgart
Florian Christof Bonnaire
Stefan Fischer
Imke Greving
Ulf Krister Hofmann
author_sort Marina Danalache
title Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
title_short Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
title_full Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
title_fullStr Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3D imaging
title_sort exploration of changes in spatial chondrocyte organisation in human osteoarthritic cartilage by means of 3d imaging
publisher Nature Publishing Group
series Scientific Reports
issn 2045-2322
publishDate 2021-05-01
description Abstract Using two-dimensional top-down view microscopy, researchers have recently described chondrocytes as being spatially arranged in distinct patterns such as strings, double strings, and small and large clusters. Because of the seeming association of these changes with tissue degeneration, they have been proposed as an image-based biomarker for early osteoarthritis (OA) staging. The aim of our study was to investigate the spatial arrangement of chondrocytes in human articular cartilage in a 3D fashion and to evaluate the 3D changes of these patterns in the context of local tissue destruction. Decalcified femoral condyle resections from the load-bearing area were analysed in 3D for their spatial chondrocyte organisation by means of fluorescence microscopy and synchrotron-radiation micro-computed tomography (SR-µCT). In intact cartilage chondrocyte strings can be found in the superficial, transitional and deep zones. The proposed pattern changes accompanying tissue destruction could be located not just along the surface but also through all layers of cartilage. Each spatial pattern was characterised by a different cellular density (the only exception being between single and double strings with p = 0.062), with cellular density significantly increasing alongside the increase in local tissue degeneration as defined by the chondrocyte patterns. We can thus corroborate that the proposed cellular spatial changes are a three-dimensional function of local tissue degeneration, underlining their relevance as an image-based biomarker for the early diagnosis and description of OA. Clinical trial registration number: Project number of the ethics committee of the University of Tübingen:171/2014BO2.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89582-w
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