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Dependence of Zonal Chondrocyte Water Transport Properties on Osmotic Environment

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Abstract

Objective The increasing concentration of proteoglycans from the surface to the deep zone of articular cartilage produces a depth-dependent gradient in fixed charge density, and therefore extracellular osmolarity, which may vary with loading conditions, growth and development, or disease. In this study we examine the relationship between in situ variations in osmolarity on chondrocyte water transport properties. Chondrocytes from the depth-dependent zones of cartilage, effectively preconditioned in varying osmolarities, were used to probe this relationship. Design First, depth variation in osmolarity of juvenile bovine cartilage under resting and loaded conditions was characterized using a combined experimental/theoretical approach. Zonal chondrocytes were isolated into two representative “baseline” osmolarities chosen from this analysis to reflect in situ conditions. Osmotic challenge was then used as a tool for determination of water transport properties at each of these baselines. Cell calcium signaling was monitored simultaneously as a preliminary examination of osmotic baseline effects on cell signaling pathways. Results Osmotic baseline exhibits a significant effect on the cell membrane hydraulic permeability of all zonal subpopulations but not on cell water content or incidence of calcium signaling. Conclusions Chondrocyte properties can be sensitive to changes in baseline osmolarity, such as those occurring during OA progression (decrease) and de novo tissue synthesis (increase). Care should be taken in comparing chondrocyte properties across zones when cells are tested in vitro in non-physiologic culture media.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, USA (AR052871) and by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (ESO). The authors wish to thank Richard Shin, Angie Cheng, Pojen Deng, Sarah Kramer, and David Mao for performing image analysis and biochemical assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, MC8904, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    Elizabeth S. Oswald, Gerard A. Ateshian & Clark T. Hung

  2. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Pen-Hsiu Grace Chao

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

    J. Chloë Bulinski

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  1. Elizabeth S. Oswald
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  2. Pen-Hsiu Grace Chao
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  3. J. Chloë Bulinski
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  4. Gerard A. Ateshian
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  5. Clark T. Hung
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Correspondence to Clark T. Hung.

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Oswald, E.S., Chao, PH.G., Bulinski, J.C. et al. Dependence of Zonal Chondrocyte Water Transport Properties on Osmotic Environment. Cel. Mol. Bioeng. 1, 339–348 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12195-008-0026-6

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