Calcification of the extracellular matrix (ECM) can be physiological or pathological. Physiological calcification occurs in bone when the soft ECM is converted into a rigid material capable of sustaining mechanical force; pathological calcification can occur in arteries and cartilage and other soft tissues. No molecular determinant regulating ECM calcification has yet been identified. A candidate molecule is matrix GLA protein (Mgp), a mineral-binding ECM protein synthesized by vascular smooth-muscle cells and chondrocytes, two cell types that produce an uncalcified ECM. Mice that lack Mgp develop to term but die within two months as a result of arterial calcification which leads to blood-vessel rupture. Chondrocytes that elaborate a typical cartilage matrix can be seen in the affected arteries. Mgp-deficient mice additionally exhibit inappropriate calcification of various cartilages, including the growth plate, which eventually leads to short stature, osteopenia and fractures. These results indicate that ECM calcification must be actively inhibited in soft tissues. To our knowledge, Mgp is the first inhibitor of calcification of arteries and cartilage to be characterized in vivo.

Spontaneous calcification of arteries and cartilage in mice lacking matrix GLA protein

Vesicles have been identified within the cartilage matrix of the upper tibial epiphyseal plate of normal mice. They were seen at all levels within the plate and usually did not appear to be in contact with cartilage cells. Vesicles were concentrated within the matrix of the longitudinal septa from the proliferative zone downward. They varied considerably in size (∼300 A to ∼1 µ) and in shape. They were bounded by unit membranes, and contained materials of varying density including, rarely, ribosomes. A close association was demonstrated between matrix vesicles and calcification: in the lower hypertrophic and calcifying zones of the epiphysis, vesicles were found in juxtaposition to needle-like structures removed by demineralization with ethylenediaminetetraacetate and identified by electron diffraction as hydroxyapatite and/or fluorapatite crystal structure—the former being indistinguishable from the latter for most cases in which electron diffraction methods are employed. Decalcification also revealed electron-opaque, partially membrane-bounded structures within previously calcified cartilage of the epiphyseal plate and underlying metaphysis which corresponded in size and distribution to matrix vesicles. It is suggested that matrix vesicles are derived from cells and that they may play a role in initiating calcification at the epiphysis.

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Vesicles associated with calcification in the matrix of epiphyseal cartilage

We have studied a murine tumor previously classified as a poorly differentiated chondrosarcoma. Although the cells in this tumor are surrounded by large quantities of extracellular matrix material, the matrix fails to react with stains specific for the sulfated glycosaminoglycans present in normal cartilage. Here we show at the ultrastructural level that the tumor matrix is a homogeneous, nonfibrillar material, resembling basement membrane. Neither the proteoglycan matrix granules nor collagen fibrils characteristic of cartilage are present in the tumor matrix. Amino acid analyses of whole tumor tissue, enzyme-solubilized tumor components, and the protein extracted from lathyritic tumors confirmed that the tumor matrix is a basement membrane collagen. The collagenous protein extracted from the tumor by nonenzymatic means contains three unique polypeptides larger than the alpha-chain components of the other types of collagen. These studies indicate that the tumor is not a type of chondrosarcoma but a basement membrane producing tumor.

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A murine tumor producing a matrix of basement membrane

http://www.jbc.org/content/250/15/6151.full.pdf

Isolation and characterization of proteoglycans from the swarm rat chondrosarcoma.

Matrix vesicles, associated with initial calcification in cartilage, have been isolated from bovine fetal epiphyseal cartilage. Cartilage was digested with collagenase, then partitioned into seven fractions by differential centrifugation. The cellular fractions contained over 80% of the DNA in the digest. The extracellular fraction that contained matrix vesicles, in which apatite crystals were often seen on electron microscopy, also displayed the highest specific activity for alkaline phosphatase, pyrophosphatase, ATPase, and 5'-AMPase (EC 3.1.3.1., 3.6.1.1, 3.6.1.3, and 3.1.3.5, respectively). Most of the acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) activity, on the other hand, was found in the cellular fractions, indicating that matrix vesicles are quite distinct from lysosomes. This appears to be the first instance of isolation of membrane-bounded extracellular particles from any normal tissue. The matrix vesicles possess enzymes that can increase the local concentration of orthophosphate and thus could lead to the formation of hydroxyapatite. The membrane-bounded matrix vesicles may also provide a mechanism for ATP-dependent transport of calcium or phosphate into the lumen of the vesicles with resultant mineralization.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/67/3/1513.full.pdf

Isolation and characterization of calcifying matrix vesicles from epiphyseal cartilage.

Cultured, human, amniotic cells (FL strain) injected into the thigh muscles of cortisone-conditioned mice proliferated to form discrete colonies which, over a period of 5 days, became invested by numerous fibroblasts. Cartilage cells and matrix appeared within the fibroblastic zones during the succeeding 2–4 days. Cartilage matrix calcified within 12 days following FL-cell injection. Cartilage cells closely resembled fibroblasts from which they appeared to be derived, and were readily distinguished from FL cells by their prominent ergastoplasm and Golgi complexes. Cartilage matrix was composed of a distinctive feltwork of randomly arranged, collagen fibrils (∼600 A axial period and ∼250 A width) from which small electron-opaque, leaflike matrix particles extended. Matrix calcification occurred with the deposition of radially arranged needle-like structures resembling hydroxyapatite. Dense centers were often identified within these clusters. Examination of heavily calcified areas revealed confluent masses of apatite-like material. In general, the fine structure of induced cartilage formation and calcification resembled that of cartilage development and calcification as previously described in the normal epiphysis.

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Electron microscopic studies of induced cartilage development and calcification.

Bovine nasal cartilage was studied by electron microscopy before and after extraction with 4 M guanidinium chloride or 1.9 M CaCl 2 . These solvents removed matrix granules, basophilia, and 85% of the proteoglycan complex, measured as hexuronate. Simultaneously, many collagen fibrils were disaggregated into component microfibrils (approximately 40 A thick). In contrast to the above solvents, exhaustive extraction with 0.5 M guanidinium chloride removed 20% of the proteoglycan complex, and matrix granules were reduced in size but not in number. Extraction with 4 M CaCl 2 removed only 10% of the proteoglycan complex, did not remove matrix granules, and caused the normal banding pattern of collagen to disappear. The banding was restored by further treatment with trypsin. Trypsin, before or after 4 M CaCl 2 , removed matrix granules and 90% of the proteoglycan complex. We conclude that matrix granules are an electron microscopic representation of the proteoglycan complex, and consist of more than one proteoglycan macromolecule. It would appear that 4 M guanidinium chloride and 1.9 M CaCl 2 , in addition to removing most of the proteoglycan complex, also disaggregate some of the collagen fibrils into their component microfibrils.

/pdf/the-fine-structure-of-bovine-nasal-cartilage-extraction-as-a-1hxp7vrk34.pdf

The fine structure of bovine nasal cartilage. Extraction as a technique to study proteoglycans and collagen in cartilage matrix.

Purified matrix vesicle alkaline phosphatase from bovine fetal epiphyseal cartilage hydrolyzes a variety of phosphate esters as well as ATP and PPi. Optimal activities forp-nitrophenyl phosphate, ATP, and PPi are found at pH 10.5, 10.0, and 8.5, respectively. The latter two substrates exhibit substrate inhibition at high concentrations.p-Nitrophenyl phosphate demonstrates decreasing pH optima with decreasing substrate concentration. Heat inactivation studies indicate that both phosphorohydrolytic and pyrophosphorolytic cleavage occur at the same site on the enzyme. Mg2+ and Hg2+ ions inhibit thep-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity at pH 10.5 while Mn2+ ions show no effect. Pi, levamisole, CN−, Zn2+, Ca2+ ions, and L-phenylalanine are reversible inhibitors of the phosphomonoesterase activity. Pi is a linear noncompetitive inhibitor with a Ki of 8.0 mM. Levamisole and L-phenylalanine are uncompetitive inhibitors with inhibition constants of 0.02 and 39.4 mM, respectively. Ca2+ ions inhibit noncompetitively with a Ki of 9.3 mM. Zn2+ ion is a potent noncompetitive inhibitor with an inhibition constant of 0.026 mM. The enzyme is inhibited irreversibly by Be2+ ion, EDTA, EGTA, ethane-l-hydroxydiphosphonate, dichloromethanediphosphonate, L-cysteine, and N-ethylmaleimide. NaCl, KCl, and Na2SO4 at 0.5–1.0 M inhibit the enzyme.

Enzymatic Characterization of the Matrix Vesicle Alkaline Phosphatase Isolated from Bovine Fetal Epiphyseal Cartilage

Membranous particles in calcifying cartilage matrix.

Cultured FL human amnion cells injected intramuscularly into cortisone-conditioned mice proliferate to form discrete nodules which become surrounded by fibroblasts. Within 12 days, fibroblastic zones differentiate into cartilage which calcifies to form bone. Experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that FL cells behave as an inductor of bone formation. In the electron microscope, FL cells were readily distinguished from surrounding fibroblasts. Transitional forms between the two cell types were not recognized. Stains for acid mucopolysaccharides emphasized the sharp boundary between metachromatic fibroblastic and cartilaginous zones and nonmetachromatic FL cells. 35S was taken up preferentially by fibroblasts and chondrocytes and then deposited extracellularly in a manner suggesting active secretion of sulfated mucopolysaccharides. FL cells showed negligible 35S utilization and secretion. FL cells, labeled in vitro with thymidine-3H, were injected and followed radioautographically, during bone formation. Nuclear label of injected FL cells did not appear in adjacent fibroblasts in quantities sufficient to indicate origin of the latter from FL cells. The minimal fibroblast nuclear labeling seen may represent reutilization of label from necrotic FL cells. It is suggested that FL cells injected into the mouse thigh induced cartilage and bone formation by host fibroblasts.

/pdf/bone-formation-induced-in-mouse-thigh-by-cultured-human-30bamo03pv.pdf

H. Clarke Anderson

Papers

Electron microscopic studies of induced cartilage development and calcification.

The fine structure of bovine nasal cartilage. Extraction as a technique to study proteoglycans and collagen in cartilage matrix.

Enzymatic Characterization of the Matrix Vesicle Alkaline Phosphatase Isolated from Bovine Fetal Epiphyseal Cartilage

Membranous particles in calcifying cartilage matrix.

Bone formation induced in mouse thigh by cultured human cells.