Abstract
We aimed to determine the characteristics that distinguish glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from osteoarthritis (OA) and normal cartilage and from men and women. Cartilage samples from 30 patients subjected to total joint arthroplasty secondary to OA or fracture (control) were evaluated, and the GAG content (μg/mg dry cartilage) after proteolysis was determined by densitometry, using agarose-gel electrophoresis. Relative percentages of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) in GAGs were determined by elemental microanalysis, as well as the zeta potential. Seventeen samples (56.6%) were from patients >70 years old, with 20 (66.6%) from women, and most [20 (66.6%)] were from the hip. The GAG content was similar regardless of patients being >/≤ 70 years old with 96.5 ± 63.5 and 78.5 ± 38.5 μg/mg (P = 0.1917), respectively. GAG content was higher in women as compared to men, with 89.5 ± 34.3 and 51.8 ± 13.3 μg/mg, respectively (P = 0.0022), as well as in OA than fracture samples, with 98.4 ± 63.5 and 63.6 ± 19.6 μg/mg, respectively (P = 0.0355). The GAG extracted from the cartilage of patients >70 years old had increase in N, and there were no gender differences regarding GAG elemental analysis. GAG from OA had a highly significant (P = 0.0005) decrease in S% (1.79% ± 0.25%), as compared to fracture samples (2.3% ± 0.19%), with an associated and significant (P = 0.0001) reduction of the zeta potential in the OA group. This is the first report of a reduced S content in GAG from OA patients, which is associated with a reduced zeta potential.
Highlights
There is a great need for accurate, reproducible biomarkers to be used in the management of osteoarthritis (OA)
Elemental analysis showed that GAG from the cartilage of patients >70 years old had a significant decrease in N, as compared to patients ≤70 years old (Figure 2)
The GAG extracted from the cartilage of patients with OA had a highly significant decrease in the relative S content, as compared to samples obtained from patients who sustained a fracture (Figure 4)
Summary
There is a great need for accurate, reproducible biomarkers to be used in the management of osteoarthritis (OA). Reduced Charge in Osteoarthritis Glycosaminoglycans subjected to OA damage, inadequate proliferation and osteophyte formation in the joint are followed by complete disruption and erosion of the cartilage leading to bare areas exposing the underlying subchondral bone. Type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate (CS)–rich proteoglycans represent the major organic components of the extracellular joint cartilage matrix. Of type II collagen and proteoglycans is essential for cartilage function, a highly hydrated structure that is frequently subjected to reversible deformation. Modifications of GAG have been found in the cartilage obtained from OA patients. The molar mass (MM) of hyaluronan, which is the main GAG in joint cartilage, was shown to be altered in areas of more severely damaged cartilage of knee OA patients [5, 6]. CS extracted from the cartilage of areas most severely affected by OA was shown to display reduced MM [7, 8]
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