TY - JOUR

T1 - Collagen Growth Pattern in Human Articular Cartilage of the Knee

AU - Jørgensen, Adam E.M.

AU - Schjerling, Peter

AU - Krogsgaard, Michael R.

AU - Petersen, Michael M.

AU - Olsen, Jesper

AU - Kjær, Michael

AU - Heinemeier, Katja M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2020.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Objective: During skeletal growth, the articular cartilage expands to maintain its cover of bones in joints, however, it is unclear when and how cartilage grows. We aim to determine the expanding growth pattern and timing across the tibia plateau in human knees. Design: Six human tibia plateaus (2 healthy, 2 with osteoarthritis, and 2 with posttraumatic osteoarthritis) were used for full-depth cartilage sampling systematically across the joint surface at 12 medial and 4 lateral sites. Methodologically, we took advantage of the performed nuclear bomb tests in the years 1955 to 1963, which increased the atmospheric 14C that was incorporated into human tissues. Cartilage was treated enzymatically to extract collagen, analyzed for 14C content, and year at formation was determined from historical atmospheric 14C concentrations. Results: By age-determination, each tibia condyle had central points of formation surrounded by later-formed cartilage toward the periphery. Furthermore, the tibia plateaus contained collagen with 14C levels corresponding to mean donor age of 11.7 years (±3.8 SD). Finally, the medial condyle had lower 14C levels corresponding to formation 1 year later than the lateral condyle (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Human cartilage on the tibia plateau contains collagen that has experienced little if any turnover since school-age. The cartilage formation develops from 2 condyle centers and radially outward with the medial condyle finishing slightly later than the lateral condyle. This suggests a childhood programmed cartilage formation with a very limited adulthood collagen turnover.

AB - Objective: During skeletal growth, the articular cartilage expands to maintain its cover of bones in joints, however, it is unclear when and how cartilage grows. We aim to determine the expanding growth pattern and timing across the tibia plateau in human knees. Design: Six human tibia plateaus (2 healthy, 2 with osteoarthritis, and 2 with posttraumatic osteoarthritis) were used for full-depth cartilage sampling systematically across the joint surface at 12 medial and 4 lateral sites. Methodologically, we took advantage of the performed nuclear bomb tests in the years 1955 to 1963, which increased the atmospheric 14C that was incorporated into human tissues. Cartilage was treated enzymatically to extract collagen, analyzed for 14C content, and year at formation was determined from historical atmospheric 14C concentrations. Results: By age-determination, each tibia condyle had central points of formation surrounded by later-formed cartilage toward the periphery. Furthermore, the tibia plateaus contained collagen with 14C levels corresponding to mean donor age of 11.7 years (±3.8 SD). Finally, the medial condyle had lower 14C levels corresponding to formation 1 year later than the lateral condyle (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Human cartilage on the tibia plateau contains collagen that has experienced little if any turnover since school-age. The cartilage formation develops from 2 condyle centers and radially outward with the medial condyle finishing slightly later than the lateral condyle. This suggests a childhood programmed cartilage formation with a very limited adulthood collagen turnover.

KW - 14C

KW - articular cartilage

KW - collagen

KW - development

KW - radiocarbon dating

KW - tissue

U2 - 10.1177/1947603520971016

DO - 10.1177/1947603520971016

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33147986

AN - SCOPUS:85095429345

VL - 13

SP - 408S-418S

JO - Cartilage

JF - Cartilage

SN - 1947-6035

IS - Suppl. 2

ER -