Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci
The human meniscus plays a crucial role for transmission and distribution of load across the knee, as well as shock absorption, joint stability, lubrication, and congruity. The aim of this study was to compare the complex geometry, and unique ultrastructure and tissue composition of the meniscus in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2019-02-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Histochemistry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/2998 |
| _version_ | 1811304249650315264 |
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| author | Michela Battistelli Marta Favero Debora Burini Giovanni Trisolino Dante Dallari Lucia De Franceschi Steven R. Goldring Mary B. Goldring Elisa Belluzzi Giuseppe Filardo Brunella Grigolo Elisabetta Falcieri Eleonora Olivotto |
| author_facet | Michela Battistelli Marta Favero Debora Burini Giovanni Trisolino Dante Dallari Lucia De Franceschi Steven R. Goldring Mary B. Goldring Elisa Belluzzi Giuseppe Filardo Brunella Grigolo Elisabetta Falcieri Eleonora Olivotto |
| author_sort | Michela Battistelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The human meniscus plays a crucial role for transmission and distribution of load across the knee, as well as shock absorption, joint stability, lubrication, and congruity. The aim of this study was to compare the complex geometry, and unique ultrastructure and tissue composition of the meniscus in healthy (control) and pathological conditions to provide understanding of structural changes that could be helpful in the future design of targetted therapies and improvement of treatment indications. We analyzed meniscus samples collected from 3 healthy multi-organ donors (median age, 66 years), 5 patients with traumatic meniscal tear (median age, 41 years) and 3 patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) for end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) (median age, 72 years). We evaluated the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, the appearance and distribution of areas of calcification, and modifications of cellular organization and structure by electron microscopy and histology. The ECM structure was similar in specimens from traumatic meniscus tears compared to those from patients with late-stage OA, showing disorganization of collagen fibers and increased proteoglycan content. Cells of healthy menisci showed mainly diffuse chromatin and well preserved organelles. Both in traumatic and in OA menisci, we observed increased chromatin condensation, organelle degeneration, and cytoplasmic vacuolization, a portion of which contained markers of autophagic vacuoles. Areas of calcification were also observed in both traumatic and OA menisci, as well as apoptotic-like features that were particularly prominent in traumatic meniscal tear samples. We conclude that meniscal tissue from patients with traumatic meniscal injury demonstrate pathological alterations characteristic of tissue from older patients undergoing TKR, suggesting that they have high susceptibility to develop OA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:03:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a52eeca1f51d458d9aa2521b9ca64acf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1121-760X 2038-8306 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:03:50Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Histochemistry |
| spelling | doaj.art-a52eeca1f51d458d9aa2521b9ca64acf2022-12-22T02:55:14ZengPAGEPress PublicationsEuropean Journal of Histochemistry1121-760X2038-83062019-02-0163110.4081/ejh.2019.2998Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisciMichela Battistelli0Marta Favero1Debora Burini2Giovanni Trisolino3Dante Dallari4Lucia De Franceschi5Steven R. Goldring6Mary B. Goldring7Elisa Belluzzi8Giuseppe Filardo9Brunella Grigolo10Elisabetta Falcieri11Eleonora Olivotto12University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Department of Biomolecular SciencesUniversity Hospital of Padua, Department of Medicine, Rheumatology UnitUniversity of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Department of Biomolecular SciencesIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Pediatric Orthopedic and TraumatologyIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgery Innovative Techniques - Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank; Revision surgery of hip prosthesis and development of new implantsIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Reconstructive Orthopedic Surgery Innovative Techniques - Musculoskeletal Tissue Bank; Revision surgery of hip prosthesis and development of new implantsNew York Hospital for Special SurgeryNew York Hospital for Special SurgeryUniversity of Padua, Musculoskeletal pathology and Oncology LaboratoryIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, ATRC-LaboratoryIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, RIT Department, RAMSES LaboratoryUniversity of Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Department of Biomolecular SciencesIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, RIT Department, RAMSES LaboratoryThe human meniscus plays a crucial role for transmission and distribution of load across the knee, as well as shock absorption, joint stability, lubrication, and congruity. The aim of this study was to compare the complex geometry, and unique ultrastructure and tissue composition of the meniscus in healthy (control) and pathological conditions to provide understanding of structural changes that could be helpful in the future design of targetted therapies and improvement of treatment indications. We analyzed meniscus samples collected from 3 healthy multi-organ donors (median age, 66 years), 5 patients with traumatic meniscal tear (median age, 41 years) and 3 patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) for end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) (median age, 72 years). We evaluated the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, the appearance and distribution of areas of calcification, and modifications of cellular organization and structure by electron microscopy and histology. The ECM structure was similar in specimens from traumatic meniscus tears compared to those from patients with late-stage OA, showing disorganization of collagen fibers and increased proteoglycan content. Cells of healthy menisci showed mainly diffuse chromatin and well preserved organelles. Both in traumatic and in OA menisci, we observed increased chromatin condensation, organelle degeneration, and cytoplasmic vacuolization, a portion of which contained markers of autophagic vacuoles. Areas of calcification were also observed in both traumatic and OA menisci, as well as apoptotic-like features that were particularly prominent in traumatic meniscal tear samples. We conclude that meniscal tissue from patients with traumatic meniscal injury demonstrate pathological alterations characteristic of tissue from older patients undergoing TKR, suggesting that they have high susceptibility to develop OA.https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/2998Meniscusmeniscal tearosteoarthritistransmission electron microscopyextracellular matrix degeneration |
| spellingShingle | Michela Battistelli Marta Favero Debora Burini Giovanni Trisolino Dante Dallari Lucia De Franceschi Steven R. Goldring Mary B. Goldring Elisa Belluzzi Giuseppe Filardo Brunella Grigolo Elisabetta Falcieri Eleonora Olivotto Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci European Journal of Histochemistry Meniscus meniscal tear osteoarthritis transmission electron microscopy extracellular matrix degeneration |
| title | Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| title_full | Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| title_fullStr | Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| title_short | Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal, injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| title_sort | morphological and ultrastructural analysis of normal injured and osteoarthritic human knee menisci |
| topic | Meniscus meniscal tear osteoarthritis transmission electron microscopy extracellular matrix degeneration |
| url | https://www.ejh.it/index.php/ejh/article/view/2998 |
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