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Related Experiment Video

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Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Detect Early Osteoarthritis

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Published on: May 24, 2020

Aging-related differences in chondrocyte viscoelastic properties.

Nikolai Steklov¹, Ajay Srivastava, K L P Sung

¹Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics : MCB

|June 5, 2009

Summary

Aging significantly increases chondrocyte stiffness, impacting cell function and potentially contributing to cartilage degeneration. This age-related increase in cell stiffness, unlike osteoarthritis-related changes, may involve alterations in the cytoskeleton.

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Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cell Biology
Orthopedics

Background:

Articular cartilage biomechanics change with age, increasing osteoarthritis risk.
Chondrocyte biomechanical properties and their age-related changes are less understood.
Cell stiffness influences mechanotransduction and cellular function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-related changes in chondrocyte biomechanical properties.
To compare biomechanical properties between young and aged human chondrocytes.
To explore potential mechanisms behind altered cell stiffness with aging.

Main Methods:

Human chondrocytes isolated from knee cartilage (post-mortem or arthroplasty).
Cells grouped by age (18-35 years vs. 55+ years) and osteoarthritis grade (normal vs. osteoarthritic).
Micropipette cell aspiration technique used to measure viscoelastic properties (equilibrium modulus, instantaneous modulus, apparent viscosity).

Main Results:

Chondrocytes from the 55+ age group exhibited significantly higher equilibrium modulus, instantaneous modulus, and apparent viscosity compared to the 18-35 age group.
No significant differences in these biomechanical properties were observed between normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes within the 55+ group.
Increased chondrocyte stiffness with aging is suggested to be linked to changes in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, or cytoskeleton.

Conclusions:

Advancing age leads to increased chondrocyte stiffness, independent of osteoarthritis severity.
This age-associated increase in cell stiffness may be mediated by cytoskeletal alterations, similar to mechanisms proposed for osteoarthritic chondrocytes.
Altered biomechanical properties of aging chondrocytes could impact cellular signaling and biochemical responses, potentially influencing cartilage health.