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Home / Equine Research Bank / Biochim Biophys Acta / Extracellular matrix changes in early osteochondrotic defect...
Biochimica et biophysica acta2004; 1690(1); 54-62; doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2004.05.002

Extracellular matrix changes in early osteochondrotic defects in foals: a key role for collagen?

Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is the most important developmental orthopaedic disease in the horse. Despite some decades of research, much of the pathogenesis of the disorder remains obscure. Increasing knowledge of articular cartilage development in juvenile animals led to the presumption that the role of collagen in OC might be more important than previously thought. To study collagen characteristics of both cartilage and subchondral bone in young (5 and 11 months of age) horses, samples were taken of subchondral bone and articular cartilage from a group of 43 Dutch Warmblood foals and yearlings that suffered from varying degrees of OC. Based on a histological classification, lesions were graded as early, middle and end stage. Collagen content and some posttranslational modifications (lysyl hydroxylation, hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) and lysylpyridinoline (LP) cross-links) were determined, as was proteoglycan content. Data were compensated for site effects and analysed for differences due to the stage of the lesion. In early lesions total collagen was significantly decreased in both cartilage and subchondral bone of 5- and 11-month-old foals. Also in cartilage, HP cross-linking was reduced in the early lesions of 5- and 11-month-old foals, while LP cross-linking was decreased in subchondral bone of the end-stage lesions of both 5- and 11-month-old foals. Hydroxylysine content was unaffected. Collagen content remained reduced in cartilage from middle- and end-stage lesions, but returned to normal in subchondral bone. In cartilage there was a decrease in proteoglycan content in the end-stage lesions of both age groups. Thus, alterations of the collagen component, but not of the proteoglycan component, of the extracellular matrix might play a role in early OC. More severe lesions show a more general picture of an unspecific repair reaction. Biomarkers of collagen metabolism can be expected to be good candidates for early detection of OC.
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Publication Date: 2004-09-01 PubMed ID: 15337170DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2004.05.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers conducted a study to understand the role of collagen in osteochondrosis (OC), which is a significant developmental orthopaedic disease in horses. The research found that the collagen component of the extracellular matrix exhibits changes in early stages of OC, suggesting that collagen may play a crucial role in the disease’s onset.

Research Background

  • Osteochondrosis is a major developmental orthopaedic disorder that affects horses. Its pathogenesis remains largely unknown, despite years of study.
  • Recent advanced understanding about articular cartilage development in juvenile animals has led to the hypothesis that collagen’s role in osteochondrosis may be more vital than previously appreciated.
  • The study conducted aimed at investigating the properties of collagen in both the cartilage and subchondral bone in young horses afflicted with varying degrees of osteochondrosis.

Methodology

  • Samples were collected from a group of 43 Dutch Warmblood foals and yearlings. These samples included subchondral bone and articular cartilage.
  • Lesions were categorized into early, middle and end stages based on a histological classification.
  • Multiple factors like collagen content, some posttranslational modifications and proteoglycan content were thoroughly examined.
  • The gathered data was adjusted for site effects and analysed to ascertain any differences in terms of the stage of the lesion.

Findings

  • In early lesions, a significant decrease in total collagen was seen in both cartilage and subchondral bone of 5- and 11-month-old foals.
  • In the cartilage of early lesions in foals of both age groups, HP cross-linking was lessened, while in the subchondral bone in end-stage lesions in foals of both age groups, LP cross-linking declined.
  • Hydroxylysine content was noted to be unaffected.
  • Cartilage of both middle- and end-stage lesions showed a reduced collagen content, whereas the subchondral bone returned to normal.
  • A decrease in proteoglycan content was also noted in cartilage in end-stage lesions in foals of both age groups.

Conclusion

  • Changes in the collagen component, not the proteoglycan component, in the extracellular matrix might play a significant role in early osteochondrosis.
  • Biomarkers of collagen metabolism could potentially serve as valuable tools for early detection of osteochondrosis.
  • More severe lesions suggested a general picture of a non-specific repair reaction.

Cite This Article

APA
van de Lest CH, Brama PA, van El B, DeGroot J, van Weeren PR. (2004). Extracellular matrix changes in early osteochondrotic defects in foals: a key role for collagen? Biochim Biophys Acta, 1690(1), 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2004.05.002

Publication

Biochimica et biophysica acta
ISSN: 0006-3002
NlmUniqueID: 0217513
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 1690
Issue: 1
Pages: 54-62

Researcher Affiliations

van de Lest, C H A
  • Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 80.176, NL-3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. C.H.A.vandeLest@vet.uu.nl
Brama, P A J
    van El, B
      DeGroot, J
        van Weeren, P R

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Bone and Bones / metabolism
          • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism
          • Collagen / metabolism
          • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
          • Glycosaminoglycans / metabolism
          • Horse Diseases / metabolism
          • Horses
          • Osteochondritis / metabolism
          • Osteochondritis / veterinary
          • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
          • Proteoglycans / metabolism

          Citations

          This article has been cited 10 times.
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