Age-Dependent Remodeling in Infrapatellar Fat Pad Adipocytes and Extracellular Matrix: A Comparative Study

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Elena Stocco¹  Giulia Borile³  Filippo Romanato²  Roberta Ramonda⁵  Pietro Ruggieri⁶  Marta Favero⁵  Andrea Porzionato¹  Raffaele De Caro¹  Veronica Macchi¹  Elisa Belluzzi⁶  Martina Contran¹  Rafael Boscolo-Berto¹  Edgardo Picardi¹  Diego Guidolin¹  Chiara Giulia Fontanella⁹  Eleonora Olivotto^1,11  Giuseppe Filardo^1,12 

[1] Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova;L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program;Department of Physics and Astronomy “G. Galilei, ” University of Padova;Institute of Pediatric Research Città della Speranza;Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University - Hospital of Padova;Orthopedic and Traumatologic Clinic, Department of Surgery, University of Padova;Internal Medicine 1, Ca' Foncello Hospital;Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Padova;Centre for Mechanics of Biological Materials, University of Padova;Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova;RAMSES Laboratory, Research, Innovation & Technology (RIT) Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli;Applied and Translational Research Center, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

关键词: infrapatellar fat pad;    aging;    osteoarthritis;    anterior-cruciate ligament rupture;    cadaver donors;    extracellular matrix;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2021.661403

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) is actively involved in knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a proper description of which developmental modifications occur in the IFP along with age and in absence of joint pathological conditions, is required to adequately describe its actual contribution in OA pathophysiology. Here, two IFP sources were compared: (a) IFP from healthy young patients undergoing anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction for ACL rupture ( n = 24); (b) IFP from elderly cadaver donors ( n = 23). After histopathological score assignment to confirm the absence of inflammatory features (i.e., inflammatory infiltrate and increased vascularity), the adipocytes morphology was determined; moreover, extracellular matrix proteins were studied through histology and Second Harmonic Generation approach, to determine collagens content and orientation by Fast Fourier Transform and OrientationJ. The two groups were matched for body mass index. No inflammatory signs were observed, while higher area, perimeter, and equivalent diameter and volume were detected for the adipocytes in the elderly group. Collagen III displayed higher values in the young group and a lower total collagen deposition with aging was identified. However, collagen I/III ratio and the global architecture of the samples were not affected. A higher content in elastic fibers was observed around the adipocytes for the ACL-IFPs and in the septa cadaver donor-IFPs, respectively. Age affects the characteristics of the IFP tissue also in absence of a pathological condition. Variable mechanical stimulation, depending on age-related different mobility, could be speculated to exert a role in tissue remodeling.

【 授权许可】

CC BY