Chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycans contribute to widespread inferior biomechanics in tendon after focal injury.
Abstract: Both mechanical and structural properties of tendon change after injury however the causal relationship between these properties is presently unclear. This study aimed to determine the extent of biomechanical change in post-injury tendon pathology and whether the sulphated glycosaminoglycans (glycosaminoglycans) present are a causal factor in these changes. Equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDF tendons) were surgically-injured in vivo (n=6 injured, n=6 control). Six weeks later they were harvested and regionally dissected into twelve regions around the lesion (equal medial/lateral, proximal/distal). Glycosaminoglycans were removed by enzymatic (chondroitinase) treatment. Elastic modulus (modulus) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) were measured under uniaxial tension to failure, and tendon glycosaminoglycan content was measured by spectrophotometry. Compared to healthy tendons, pathology induced by the injury decreased modulus (-38%; 95%CI -49% to -28%; P<0.001) and UTS (-38%; 95%CI -48% to -28%; P<0.001) and increased glycosaminoglycan content (+52%; 95%CI 39% - 64%; P<0.001) throughout the tendon. Chondroitinase-mediated glycosaminoglycan removal (50%; 95%CI 21-79%; P<0.001) in surgically-injured pathological tendons caused a significant increase in modulus (5.6MPa/µg removed; 95%CI 0.31-11; P=0.038) and UTS (1.0MPa per µg removed; 95%CI 0.043-2; P=0.041). These results demonstrate that the chondroitin/dermatan sulphate glycosaminoglycans that accumulate in pathological tendon post-injury are partly responsible for the altered biomechanical properties.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2016-06-06 PubMed ID: 27316761DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.06.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study examined how tendons are affected by injury, specifically the impact of a certain type of molecular compounds, glycosaminoglycans. The research found that injury caused these compounds to build up in the tendon, leading to changes that weaken the tendon’s strength and elasticity.
Objective of the Research
The purpose of this study was to determine the changes that occur in a tendon after an injury, particularly the buildup of molecules known as glycosaminoglycans. The researchers wanted to know the extent of these changes and if they contribute to the weakening of the tendon.
Methodology
- Equine superficial digital flexor tendons were injured surgically. There were twelve samples of injured tendons and six healthy ones as a control group.
- They let six weeks pass after the injury, then dissected them into twelve regions for a detailed examination.
- After that, the glycosaminoglycans were isolated using a process called enzymatic treatment.
Findings and Analysis
- The researchers compared the injured tendons to the healthy ones and found three significant differences.
- There was a decrease in the elasticity and tensile strength of the injured tendons. The glycosaminoglycan content, on the other hand, increased after the injury.
- A process called chondroitinase-mediated glycosaminoglycan removal was used, which showed a significant increase in elasticity and tensile strength in the injured tendons.
Conclusion
The study concluded that the buildup of chondroitin/dermatan sulphate glycosaminoglycans in the tendon after injury contributes to the decrease in biomechanical properties such as its elasticity and tensile strength. Removal of the glycosaminoglycans, therefore, can help in increasing these properties, suggesting a potential approach for treatment of tendon injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Choi RK, Smith MM, Martin JH, Clarke JL, Dart AJ, Little CB, Clarke EC.
(2016).
Chondroitin sulphate glycosaminoglycans contribute to widespread inferior biomechanics in tendon after focal injury.
J Biomech, 49(13), 2694-2701.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.06.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Laboratory (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia; Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
- Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Laboratory (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia.
- Research and Clinical Training Unit, University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales, Australia.
- Raymond Purves Bone and Joint Research Laboratories (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: christopher.little@sydney.edu.au.
- Murray Maxwell Biomechanics Laboratory (Institute of Bone and Joint Research), Kolling Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital (Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney), St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Chondroitin Sulfates / metabolism
- Elastic Modulus
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Sheep, Domestic
- Tendon Injuries / metabolism
- Tendon Injuries / pathology
- Tendons / metabolism
- Tendons / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Pringels L, Cook JL, Witvrouw E, Burssens A, Vanden Bossche L, Wezenbeek E. Exploring the role of intratendinous pressure in the pathogenesis of tendon pathology: a narrative review and conceptual framework. Br J Sports Med 2023 Aug;57(16):1042-1048.
- Kim SJ, Oh HW, Chang JW, Kim SJ. Recovery of Tendon Characteristics by Inhibition of Aberrant Differentiation of Tendon-Derived Stem Cells from Degenerative Tendinopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Apr 13;21(8).
- Zappia J, Joiret M, Sanchez C, Lambert C, Geris L, Muller M, Henrotin Y. From Translation to Protein Degradation as Mechanisms for Regulating Biological Functions: A Review on the SLRP Family in Skeletal Tissues. Biomolecules 2020 Jan 3;10(1).
- Tsang AS, Dart AJ, Biasutti SA, Jeffcott LB, Smith MM, Little CB. Effects of tendon injury on uninjured regional tendons in the distal limb: An in-vivo study using an ovine tendinopathy model. PLoS One 2019;14(4):e0215830.
- Shu CC, Smith MM, Appleyard RC, Little CB, Melrose J. Achilles and tail tendons of perlecan exon 3 null heparan sulphate deficient mice display surprising improvement in tendon tensile properties and altered collagen fibril organisation compared to C57BL/6 wild type mice. PeerJ 2018;6:e5120.
- Jacquet-Guibon S, Dupays AG, Coudry V, Crevier-Denoix N, Leroy S, Siñeriz F, Chiappini F, Barritault D, Denoix JM. Randomized controlled trial demonstrates the benefit of RGTA® based matrix therapy to treat tendinopathies in racing horses. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0191796.
- Biasutti S, Dart A, Smith M, Blaker C, Clarke E, Jeffcott L, Little C. Spatiotemporal variations in gene expression, histology and biomechanics in an ovine model of tendinopathy. PLoS One 2017;12(10):e0185282.
- Fang F, Lake SP. Multiscale Mechanical Evaluation of Human Supraspinatus Tendon Under Shear Loading After Glycosaminoglycan Reduction. J Biomech Eng 2017 Jul 1;139(7):0710131-8.
- Blank JL, Eekhoff JD, Soslowsky LJ. Glycosaminoglycans influence regional mechanics in young but not old Achilles tendons. J Physiol 2025 Dec;603(23):7589-7601.
- Hefferan SA, Blaker CL, Ashton DM, Little CB, Clarke EC. Structural Variations of Tendons: A Systematic Search and Narrative Review of Histological Differences Between Tendons, Tendon Regions, Sex, and Age. J Orthop Res 2025 May;43(5):994-1011.
- Troop LD, Puetzer JL. Intermittent cyclic stretch of engineered ligaments drives hierarchical collagen fiber maturation in a dose- and organizational-dependent manner. Acta Biomater 2024 Sep 1;185:296-311.
- Pringels L, Van Valckenborgh GJ, Segers P, Chevalier A, Stepman H, Wezenbeek E, Burssens A, Vanden Bossche L. Elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content in the Achilles tendon contribute to higher intratendinous pressures: Implications for Achilles tendinopathy. J Sport Health Sci 2024 Nov;13(6):863-871.
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