Abstract
Biologically, costal cartilage is an understudied tissue type and much is yet to be learned regarding underlying mechanisms related to form and function, and how these relate to disease states, specifically chest wall deformity. Chest wall deformities have a component of inheritance, implying underlying genetic causes; however the complexity of inheritance suggests multiple genetic components. At our Centre investigations were performed on gene expression of key select genes from costal cartilage removed at surgery of patients with chest wall deformity to show high expression of decorin, a key player in collagen fiber formation and growth. Also, the degree of tissue differentiation was investigated that was different to that of articular cartilage as measured by gene ratio. Ultrastructural aspects of costal cartilage were determined by scanning and atomic force microscopy to show the presence of ‘nanostraws’ and preliminary data of nanostraw strength by measuring Young’s modulus of individual nanostraws. Protein deposition of collagen type II, decorin, and biglycan suggest orchestration of fiber formation in the interterritorial matrix. Although no specific biological markers related to chest wall deformity have currently been identified, work from our Centre has identified potential areas of interest.
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