Cartilage extracellular matrix

Cheng, N.C. et al., Chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived adult stem cells by a porous scaffold derived from native articular cartilage extracellular matrix. Tissue Eng Part A, 2009.15(2) 231-41. 

Proteoglycans may be soluble and located in the extracellular matrix, as is the case for serglycin, versican, and the cartilage matrix proteoglycan, or they may be integral transmembrane proteins, such as syndecan. Both types of proteoglycan... 

Secreted or extracellular matrix proteoglyeans Large aggregating cartilage proteoglycans CS/KS 220,952 2124... 

Chitosan freeze-dried fleeces support chondrocyte attachment and synthesis of extracellular matrix [344]. Chitosan was used to assist the spontaneous tissue repair of the meniscus [345]. The repair of the cartilage and the prevention of its degradation in osteoarthritis is, however, possible with the association of glucosamine sulfate salt and chondroitine sulfate, the latter being particularly effective [346]. 

Setton and Chilkoti applied ELPs as a three-dimensional matrix to entrap chondrocytes. In their study, ELP[VsG3A2-90] with a transition temperature of 35°C at 50 mg/mL in PBS was used. This biopolymer can be used to generate a suspension with cells, which upon injection into a defect site will form a scaffold. They showed that in vitro the resulting ELP gel supported the viability of chondrocytes and the synthesis and accumulation of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix material. This suggested that ELPs indeed could be used for in situ formation... 

Mwale F, Roughley P, Antoniou J (2004) Distinction between the extracellular matrix of the nucleus pulposus and hyaline cartilage a requisite for tissue engineering of intervertebral disc. Eur Cell Mater 8 58-63... 

TGF-Ps are pleiotrophic cytokines. They are capable of inhibiting the cell cycle and, hence, cell growth of several cell types, most notably epithelial and haematopoietic cells. These factors, however, stimulate the growth of other cell types, most notably cells that give rise to connective tissue, cartilage and bone. They induce the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and modulate the expression of matrix proteases. They also serve as a powerful chemoattractant for monocytes... 

The family of connective-tissue cells includes fibroblasts, chondrocytes (cartilage cells), and osteoblasts (bone-forming cells). They are specialized to secrete extracellular proteins, particularly collagens, and mineral substances, which they use to build up the extracellular matrix (see p. 346). By contrast, osteoclasts dissolve bone matter again by secreting and collagenases (see p. 342). 

Kisiday J, Jin M, Kurz B, Hung H, Semino C, Zhang S, Grodzinsky AJ. Self-assemhling peptide hydrogel fosters chondrocyte extracellular matrix production and cell division implications for cartilage tissue repair. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2002 99 9996-10001. 

Hascall, V. C. Heinegard, D. The structure of cartilage proteoglycans. In Extracellular matrix influences on gene expression, pp. 423. Slavkin, H. C., Greulich, R. C. (eds.). New York Academic Press 1975... 

The polypeptide precursors of the collagen molecule are formed in fibroblasts (or in the related osteoblasts of bone and chondro blasts of cartilage), and are secreted into the extracellular matrix. After enzymic modification, the mature collagen monomers aggre gate and become cross-linked to form collagen fibrils. 

The deposition of limited quantities of hydroxyapatite in extracellular matrix has been observed without bounding cells. Cartilage calcification is such a case where local pH control and Ca2+ are dependent upon diffusion and the rate of mineral deposition is driven by phosphate presentation. Chondrocytes produce alkaline phosphatase that generates the required phosphate, but cartilage is not delimited by any cellular structures and transfer of Ca2+ and H+ is by diffusion from extracellular fluid. 

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