Locomotor Flashcards
development of long bones
Bond forms as a cartilage first → blood vessels invade cartilage → cartilage remains in growth plate → adult bone
what cells invade cartilage during development with blood vessels?
osteogenic cells
diaphysis
shaft of the long bone
epiphysis
distal and proximal ends of bone
metaphysis-
regions in a mature bone where the diaphysis joins the epiphysis, in a growing bone this is the region occupied by the epiphyseal growth plate
Why is repair of connective tissue so poor/non-existent?
- Poor vascular supply
- Very low synthesis rates of some tissue components
- Loss of cell-matrix interactions- leads to irreversible loss of phenotype
- Integration of repair tissue very poor
common features of connective tissues
- Low density of highly specialised cells sensitive to the physico-chemical environment
- Complex ECM
• Fibres- eg. collagen
• Ground substance- unstructured filling material which is made of proteoglycans
• Interstitial fluid - ECM turnover (synthesis/degradation) by cells throughout life
resident cells in connective tissue
fibroblasts in most CT but chondrocytes in cartilage
resident cells in bone
- Osteoblasts- produce bone
- Osteocytes- a mature osteoblast surrounded by a bone matrix
- Bone lining cells
- Osteoclasts- function in resorption and degradation of existing bone
- Osteoprogenitor cells- osteoblast precursors
components of ECM
- Collagens- fibrillar proteins resist tensile stresses- “rope”
- Proteoglycans (also call ground substance- unstructured material)- composed of glycosaminoglycans which swell and resist compressive forces
- Interstitial fluid- complex composition
what is mechanical stability of tissue controlled by?
synthesis/degradation of ECM. Cells link to the ECM by integrins.
epiphyseal growth plate
- Specialised zone of cartilage
- Lies between epiphysis and metaphysis
- Site of continued endochondral ossification during growth
- Longitudinal growth: regulated by complex networks of nutritional, cellular, paracrine and endocrine factors (including growth hormone, IGF-I, thyroid hormone, glucocorticoids, androgens and oestrogens)
- Rapid growth occurs at puberty and when there is plentiful nutrition and closes after
diaphysis- cortical or cancellous?
most cortical and little cancellous bone
epiphysis- cortical or cancellous?
predominantly cancellous bone
cortical/ compact bone function
- Provides most structural support
* Resists bending and torsion stresses (less likely to fracture)- thicker in mid part of bone
macroscopic histology of cortical bone
- Osteons/ Haversian canals
- Volkmann’s Canals
Osteons/ Haversian canals
- Main structural unit of cortical bone
- Bone cylinders 2-3mm long
- 8-15 concentric lamellae 0.2mm wide
- Axis parallel to long axis of bone
- Central cavity with blood vessel and nerve
Volkmann’s Canals
• Carry blood vessels from periosteum (dense layer of vascular connective tissue enveloping bones expect at the surface of joints) to haversian system
cancellous/trabecular bone features
- Found inside cortices
- Provides large surface area for metabolic functions
- Provides strength without disadvantage of weight
- Arranges along lines of maximum mechanical stress: allows transmission of loads, support areas of maximum stress
- More metabolically active than cortical bone due to larger surface area
macroscopic cancellous bone histology
- Forms interconnecting network of plates/trabeculae with marrow between
- Arranges along lines of maximum mechanical stress
osteoid
- Unmineralized bone matrix- produced by osteoblasts
* Type I collagen
non collagenous protein in osteoids
- Osteocalcin- marker of bone formation
- Osteonectin
- Osteopontin
- Growth factors
microscopic lamellar bone
- Type I collagen fibres laid down in parallel sheets/lamellae
- Structurally very strong
microscopic woven bone
- Collagen fibres randomly arranged
* Mechanically weak formed when bone is being produced rapidly eg. foetus or fracture
formation of osteoblasts from stem cells
Formation and proliferation for preosteoblast cells from stem cells requires signalling through the Wnt-frizzled-Lrp5-betacatenin signalling pathway. Osteoblast differentiation is controlled by the transcription factors Runx2 and osterix.
In absence of factors, no osteoblasts formed.
osteoblasts function and lifespan
- Produce and deposit osteoid
- Regulate osteoclast differentiation/ function: RANKL-RANK interactions
- Life span of 6 months
osteocytes features
- Most common in bone
- Reside in lacunae in cortical and trabecular bone- connect to other osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts via long cytoplasmic process
function of osteocytes
Regulation of bone remodelling
• increased expression of RANKL
• production of sclerostin- inhibited by PTH and mechanical loading
• Responds to increasing PTH levels by inducing rapid calcium release (osteolytic osteolysis)
osteoclasts function
- Bind to mineralised bone surface using integrins
* Resorb bone by production of acid to release calcium and proteases to breakdown organic matrix
osteoclast biomarkers of bone resorption
- Detected in blood or urine
- Type I collagen fragments: N- and C- terminal cross linked telopeptides
- Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase- expressed by osteoclasts
- Bone sialoprotein (BSP)
osteoclast features
• Monocyte/macrophage derived multinucleate giant cells
how are osteoclast precursors expressed?
growth factors: M-CSF and TNF produced by stromal cells induces expression of osteoclast precursors
RANK-RANKL interactions
RANK is a cell membrane receptor expressed by osteoclasts and precursors. It is activated following binding to RANKL which is expressed by stromal cells, osteocytes and osteoblasts.
This induces the proliferation of mononuclear precursors and induces them to become osteoclasts. It also increases the osteoclast activity.
what is intramembranous ossification? sites?
- Osteoid deposition on mesenchymal cells within a fibrous membrane to increase bone thickness
- Formation of skull, maxilla, parts of clavicle/mandible
- Subperiosteal bone growth
- Fracture repair
process of intramembranous ossification
A. Mesenchymal stem cell proliferation in fibrous tissue, formation of cluster/ nodule
B. Differentiation into osteoblasts- formation of ossification centre, production of osteoid (woven)
C. Mineralisation of osteoid, osteoblasts embedded in matrix- osteocytes
D. Blood vessels become entrapped/grow in, bone remodelled into lamellar trabecular bone
endochondral ossification
- Osteoid deposition on a cartilage framework to lengthen bones
- Development of most of the skeleton
- Growth plates
- Fracture repair
- Programmed changes in chondrocyte: hypertrophy, matrix vesicles, type X collagen secretion, chondrocyte death
primary centre of ossification
genetically predetermined sites and times of ossification in diaphysis of cartilage bones in utero
how is a primary centre of ossification formed?
Hyaline cartilage model→ periosteum forms → formation of a bone collar → chondrocyte hypertrophy and secretion of alkaline phosphatase → matrix calcification → osteo-progenitor and blood vessel ingrowth → primary centre of ossification
where are primary and secondary centres of endochondral ossification?
periosteum* (primary centre) and the growth plate (secondary centre, until the plates fuse)
secondary centres of ossification
- Ossification in epiphysis at or after birth
- Similar process to that of primary centre formation
- Line of cartilage between primary and secondary centres= epiphyseal (growth) plate
longitudinal bone growth process
- The cartilage model growth in length by continuous proliferation of chondrocytes
- Chondrocytes differentiate and hypertrophy
- Cartilage matric calcifies
- Blood vessels/chrondroclasts invade and remove calcified cartilage
- Osteoblasts deposit bone on residual cartilage struts
cessation of bone growth
- Growth stops when the epiphyseal growth plates close
- Varies at different sites and is genetically determined i.e. Inherited height
- Oestrogens/androgens initially increase GH secretion in early puberty and increase bone growth but later induce closure of growth plates
- Premature closure of a growth plate results in a shortened bone
local hyperaemia
(excess of blood in the vessels supply) can causes growth arrest
• Infection: osteomyelitis
• Juvenile: chronic arthritis
• Arteriovenous malformation
Achondroplasia
- Mutation in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)
- Receptor constitutively active
- Decreased chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophy
- Limbs are short while the torso is typically of normal length (non-Vitruvian)
Gigantism
- Excess GH production before puberty
* Increased longitudinal bone growth
Acromegaly
- Excess GH production
- Growth plates closed
- adults aged 30 to 50
- Increased bone formation
benefits of bone remodelling
maintains the mechanical integrity of the skeleton by removing micro damaged bone and reinforcing bone in areas subject to increased mechanical stress. It is also important for calcium homeostasis.
4 phases of bone remodelling
- Activation
- Resorption (6 weeks)X$
- Reversal (1.5 weeks)
- Formation/mineralisation (5 months)
Activation in bone remodelling
Bone lining cells become rounded and expose bone. They secrete collagenase to remove a thin covering layer of unmineralized bone (osteoid). Osteoclasts are differentiated from mononuclear precursors through the RANKL-RANK interactions and are recruited.
control of activation phase
well controlled due to microfractures and mechanical stresses: osteocytes secrete sclerostin leading to increases RANKL expression- increased osteoclast activity and decreased osteoblast activity.
regulation of RANK-RANKL interactions
Regulated by osteoprotegrin (OPG) a decoy receptor that binds RANKL
• OPG is secreted by osteoblasts and stromal cells
resorption in bone remodelling
Osteoclasts adhere to mineralised bone via αVβ3, the integrin vitronectin receptor.
Actions:
- Form ruffled border (microvillus structure) which increases surface are available for secretion/absorption
- Secretes acid (for removal of calcium hydroxyapatite) and proteases (for removal of organic matrix)
positive regulation of bone resorption
- RANK/RANKL
- Cytokines including TGFβ, BMPs, FGFs, and IGFs produced locally or released from bone
- Systemic hormones like PTH
- Maintenance of the ruffled border
negative regulation of bone resorption
local production of OPG and systemically by calcitonin.
what is amount of bone that is resorbed related to
osteoclast life span
osteoclast death
inhibition of RANKL-RANK interactions. They are replaced by mononuclear cells which lay down a cement line to which the newly produced osteoid adheres to.
reversal phase in bone remodelling
Transition from bone resorption to formation is mediated by osteoclast-derived coupling factors which direct the differentiation and activation of osteoblasts in resorbed lacunae to refill it with new bone. Osteoblasts differentiate form bone marrow stromal cells.
role of osteoclasts in reversal phase
- Release of bone matrix derived factors (BMP, IGF) which increase OB formation
- Cell surface EphrinB2 binds OB EphB4 increasing OB differentiation
- S1P released by OC increases OB migration
formation phase in bone remodelling
Osteoblasts lay down osteoid.
- Directional secretion of type I collagen
- Non collagenous proteins i.e. osteocalcin, IGF, BMPs that regulate osteoclast/osteoblast formation and function
Osteoids stay unmineralized for 15-20 days before immediate mineralisation.
mineralisation phase in bone remodelling
Bone mineralisation involves deposition of hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 which is an inorganic mineral of bone and precipitate of soluble Ca2+ and inorganic PO4. The ratio of Ca2+ iPO4 in hydroxyapatite changes with time which makes bone harder but more brittle.
Matrix vesicles= cytoplasmic buds which have accumulated Ca2+ and iPO4 are released from the surface of osteoblasts. - contain alkaline phosphatase and Phospho-1.
MV are deposited on collagen fibres associated with non-collagenous proteins which mediate crystal nucleation.
what does membrane rupture/breakdown and the modulation of ECM composition promote?
propagation of hydroxyapatite
local regulation of bone mineralisation
Locally: predominantly by availability of extracellular PPi (pyrophosphate):
- It directly binds to growing hydroxyapatite crystals preventing the apposition of mineral ions
- Induces osteopontin which is a protein that has mineral binding and crystal growth inhibiting activity and is expressed by osteoblasts
systemic regulation of bone mineralisation
Systemically:
- Regulation of blood Ca2+ and phosphate levels by the parathyroid hormone (PTH) which increases serum Ca2+ and decreases Pi
- Vitamin D which increases serum Ca2+
- FGF23- produced by osteocytes and osteoblasts in response to increased Vitamin D, increases renal excretion of Pi and decreases PTH and Vitamin D levels
homonal regulators of osteoclastic bone resorption:
PTH (+ve), calcitonin (-ve) and oestrogen (-ve)
Major hormonal regulators of osteoblastic bone formation:
PTH (+ve), vitamin D3 (+ve), calcitonin (-ve), oestrogen (+ve), growth hormone (+ve)
disorders of bone remodelling
- Osteoporosis: resorption > formation
- Paget’s disease of bone: resorption and formation increased
- Osteopetrosis: resorption decreases
disorders of mineralisation
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacia, rickets)
- Tumour induced osteomalacia- increased levels of FGF23
- Renal osteodystrophy
causes of accelerated bone loss
menopause (oestrogen loss), malnutrition, immobilisation, medical endocrine disorders, medication (glucocorticoids), osteoporosis
causes of osteoporosis
Primary: old age and post-menopausal status
Secondary: immobilisation, malnutrition/malabsorption, endocrine disease- thyrotoxicosis/Cushing’s syndrome, drugs (eg. corticosteroids, heparin)
what does lower peak bone mass lead to
increased fracture risk with normal age related bone loss
osteoporotic bone features
Cortical bone: thinner
Trabecular bone: struts thinner and less connected
Both are mechanically weak but normally mineralised.
Paget’s disease of bone definition and clinical features
- Increased and uncontrolled bone turnover → excessive osteoclast activity leads to subsequent increased osteoblast activity
- thickened, sclerotic bones
Clinical features: - Weak deformed bones
- Enlarged skull
- Nerve compression- deafness
pathology of Paget’s disease of bone
- Exaggerated bone remodelling- increased osteoclastic and osteoblastic activity
- Large multinucleated osteoclasts
- Lytic, mixed and sclerotic phases
mutation in SQSTM1-
abnormal osteoclast function, increased bone resorption
osteopetrosis
- Hard dense bone which is thick and sclerotic
- Decrease in number or activity of osteoclasts
Bone laid down but not remodelled, in time bone marrow is replaced by bone and haemopoiesis (production of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow) is compromised.
causes of osteopetrosis
- Carbonic anhydrase II deficiency
- CSF-1 signalling abnormalities
- Chloride channel mutations
hyperparathyroidism definition
Increase in circulation levels of PTH as result of excess production by one or more parathyroid glands and increases serum calcium levels
primary hyperparathyroidism
intrinsic abnormality of the parathyroid glands (adenoma)- pathological increase in PTH production
secondary hyperparathyroidism
abnormality of calcium homeostasis (chronic renal disease)- results in physiological hyperplasia
PTH importance
- Increases bone resorption- PTH acts on Oblasts to produce RANKL and decrease Osteoprotegerin with activation of Oclasts
- Increases renal Ca2+ resorption and phosphate loss
- Enhances Vitamin D conversion to 1,25(OH)2 VitD- increased Ca2+ uptake from GI tract
hyperparathyroidism effect on bones
Increased Bone Turnover
- Increased osteoclastic activity- cortical thinning/ subperiosteal bone erosion
- Increased osteoblastic activity
- Fragile bones that easily fracture (osteoporosis)
symptoms and signs of hyperparathyroidism
- Bone and joint pain
- Kidney stones, excessive urination
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Depression or forgetfulness
- Nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite
- Frequent complaints of illness with no apparent cause
importance of Vit D
- Most active form 1,25(OH)2VitD (calcitriol) acts via VD receptors – present throughout the body
- Maintains serum calcium levels: increases calcium absorption from GI tract, increases bone resorption by increasing Oclast formation
- Maintains serum phosphate levels: decreases PTH synthesis, increases FGF23 production
what can vit D deficiency/ resistance lead to?
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets or osteomalacia.
Vitamin D resistance can lead to Vitamin D-dependant rickets type II (receptor mutation).
bone effect of vit D deficiency
- Osteomalacia: decreased mineralisation of bone
- Rickets: decreased CA2+/ Vit D in childhood, soft bones that deform and fracture easily
- Serum calcium decreased: decreased phosphate and alkaline phosphatase (affects matrix vesicles in mineralisation)
Autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets
- Mutation in FGF23 gene results in resistance to proteolysis
- Low serum phosphate, renal phosphate wasting, low 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3
Phosphaturic mesenchymal tumour
- Rare soft tissue tumour that produces excess FGF23
- Low serum phosphate, renal phosphate wasting, low 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3
- Decreased bone mineralisation with osteomalacia
- Excision of the tumour is curative with reversal of clinal and lab abnormalities
Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis:
- Loss of function mutations in FGF23 (or the FGF23 co-receptor α-Klotho)
- Increased levels of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphatemia)
- Abnormal deposits of phosphate and calcium (calcinosis) in tissues
collagen structure
- Each polypeptide chain forms a left hand helix
- 3 polypeptide chains are wound together in a right handed superhelix
- There are H-bonds between chains (not within chains as there are in an alpha helix)
- All collagens contain long stretches of the repeating sequence glycine-proline-4-hydroxyproline
collagen in bone, cartilage and skin
- Bone contains types I, V, XII, XIV
- Cartilage contains types II, VI, IX, X, XI
- Skin contains types I, II, III, V, XI
collagen synthesis and processing
- Transcribed in the nucleus and translated in the ribosomes, like all proteins
Ends up as pre-pro-collagen - Post-translational modifications in the endoplasmic reticulum (mostly) and the golgi apparatus (latterly)
Ends up as procollagen
(Problems here are found in both scurvy and Ehlers Danlos syndrome) - Secreted from the cell, undergoes enzymatic modification
Ends up as a collagen fibril
where does elastin form elastic fibres
ECM protein which forms elastic fibres in lungs, arteries, skin and tendons.
elastin structure
- Contains glycine, proline, alanine but it doesn’t have a triple helix
- Chains are covalently cross linked by oxidation of lysine sidechains followed by nonenzymatic reaction with other lysines and histadines
how do neutrophils degrade elastin and other ECM proteins
Neutrophils can release proteinases that degrade elastin and other ECM proteins: these proteinases are inhibited by a1-antitrypsin (secreted by liver, inactivated by smoking)
what can lead to emphysema?
Congenital deficiency of a1-antitrypsin, or its inactivation by smoking
glycosaminoglycans structure
unbranched, acidic polysaccharides composed of repeating dissacharide units with attached sulphate groups
proteoglycans structure
Proteoglycans contain GAGs covalently attached to core proteins through a tetrasaccharide linked to a serine sidechain in the sequence -SerGlyXGly-
Mucopolysaccharidose
are rare hereditary diseases caused by defects in the lysosomal enzymes that degrade GAGS. Partially degraded GAGS accumulate in lysosomes, causing skeletal and other deformities, and often mental retardation
Cartilage structure
- Mostly water (80%) but remaining is collagen (2/3) and glycosaminoglycans (1/3)
- GAG aggregates are maintained within a mesh of collagen fibrils- allows elasticity and low friction in joints
bone consists of
- 20% collagen; 70% inorganic salts (mainly calcium hydroxyapatite but can also have Mg2+, F–, CO22- and citrate in the crystal lattice); 10% water
scurvy and its symptoms
Dietary deficiency of Vit C resulting inactivation of prolyl hydroxylases with consequent failure to synthesis secrete and deposit collagen
Symptoms: fragility of blood vessel walls, petechial haemorrhages, gum inflammation, loss of teeth, poor healing of wounds.
what can result in failure of collagen secretion by fibroblasts?
- Errors in post translational modification (caused by mutations in genes encoding collagen itself or encoding processing enzymes)
why is the collagen structure intolerant of point mutation
- strict requirement for glyXY sequence repeats means that the collagen structure is intolerant of point mutations (particularly in glycine, the smallest aminoacid, and in proline).
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
- Caused by mutation in collagen I
- OI type 1: commonest and least sever, collagen I is deficient but of normal structure
Osteogenesis Imperfecta type 2
perinatal lethal, abnormal collagen structure and can lead to crumpled bones in utero
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
- Heterogenous group of disease where collagen processing is affected
- EDS type IV= most serious, deficiency of collagen type III may lead to rupture of arteries or intestines, pneumothorax and complications of pregnancy
- Other forms affect type IV, VII ect.
Marfan Syndrome
- Dominant inherited disease caused by mutations in the gene for fibrillin 1, a glycoprotein that with elastin, forms microfibrils in aorta and ligaments
- The microfibrils bind a growth factor, TGFbeta and in Marfan syndrome, increased levels of free TGF-beta cause developmental abnormalities
symptoms of Marfan Syndrome
Symptoms: disproportionately long extremities (arachnodactyly), craniofacial abnormalities, joint hypermobility; eventually lens dislocation, pneumothorax, or rupture of the aorta may occur.
hyaline cartilage
Eg. articular cartilage) on surfaces of moveable joints
- Glassy, low friction surface
- Withstands compressive and tensile forces- load bearing
- Pliable- spreads loads over ends of bone
- Made of collagen- mainly basket weave
chondrocytes
- Exclusively responsible for synthesis/ breakdown of ECM components
- Normally synthesise cartilage specific ECM components- collagen type II, aggrecan
- Specialised matrix surround cells- lacuna or chondon (type VI collagen)
- Synthesis wide range of degradative enzymes
- Chondrocytes are phenotypically very unstable- role of the enzyme
difference between chondrocytes and fibroblasts
C: type 2, aggrecan
F: type 1, small PGs
Fibrocartilage
(eg. intervertebral disc, meniscus)
- Support, prevents bone-bone contact, spread load, limits movement
- Can withstand tensile and compressive forces
- Collagen fibres are thick & have clear parallel orientation and structure
- Cells often in rows, mainly fibroblasts but some chondrocytes
elastic cartilage
(eg. auricle of ear, epiglottis)
- Histologically very similar to hyaline
- But contains elastin- highly & reversible deformable
- Ideal for a flexible skeleton
- fibroblasts
what do fibroblasts synthesis
elastin, collagens and small PGs
Mosaicplasty
- a method for repairing small areas of degenerate load-bearing cartilage using osteochondral explants
roles of articular cartilage
absorbs/ distributes load, protects ends of bone. With synovial fluid, it provides a low friction surface for articulating joints
synovial fluid
- Ultrafiltrate of plasma with hyaluronic acid- lubricant
- Produced by synoviocytes of synovial membrane
- Primary source of nutrition and removal of waste for cartilage cells
- Viscous when joint immobile, warming up exercises increases production/secretion, reduces viscosity
- Contains a small number of phagocytes
difference btwn tendons and ligament
- Tendons transmit load from muscle to bone
- Ligaments transmit load/give stability form bone-bone (hold skeleton together)
- Cells adapt to prevailing mechanical forces by modifying ECM synthesis
thickeness of load and non load bearing cartilage
- Load bearing cartilage is thicker and stronger than non-load-bearing
- In immobilised joints, cartilage thins and is lost, usually reversible
- Excessive load/impact can cause matrix damage and chondrocyte death
matrix synthesis and chondrocyte control
- Normal dynamic loading: synthesis = breakdown
- Greater loading: synthesis > breakdown
- Less loading: breakdown > synthesis
- Cartilage degeneration: breakdown»_space; synthesis
static load and dynamic load on chondrocytes
- Static load- depresses synthesis, fluid flow/streaming potentials/ionic composition
- Dynamic load- stimulates synthesis, high hydrostatic pressure (200x on standing)