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Collagen Network of Articular Cartilage Modulates Fluid Flow and Mechanical Stresses in Chondrocyte

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Abstract

The extracellular matrix of articular cartilage modulates the mechanical signals sensed by the chondrocytes. In the present study, a finite element model (FEM) of the chondrocyte and its microenvironment was reconstructed using the information from fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy. This environment consisted of pericellular, territorial (mainly proteoglycans), and inter-territorial (mainly collagen) matrices. The chondrocyte, pericellular, and territorial matrix were assumedto be mechanically isotropic and poroelastic, whereas the inter-territorial matrix, due to its high collagen content, was assumed to be transversely isotropic and poroelastic. Under instantaneous strain-controlled compression, the FEM indicated that the fluid pressure within the chondrocyte increased nonlinearly as a function of the in-plane Young’s modulus of the collagen network. Under instantaneous force-controlled compression, the chondrocyte experienced the highest fluid pressure when the in-plane Young’s modulus of the collagen network was ~4 MPa. Based on the present results, the mechanical characteristics of the collagen network of articular cartilage can modify fluid flow and stresses in chondrocytes. Therefore, the integrity of the collagen network may be an important determinant in cell stimulation and in the control of the matrix maintenance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, University of Kuopio, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Rami K. Korhonen, Petro Julkunen, Reijo Lappalainen & Jukka S. Jurvelin

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Rami K. Korhonen

  3. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Petro Julkunen & Jukka S. Jurvelin

  4. Department of Anatomy, University of Kuopio, POB 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Jarno Rieppo

  5. Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Yrjö T. Konttinen

  6. ORTON Orthopedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation, Helsinki, Finland

    Yrjö T. Konttinen

  7. COXA Hospital for the Joint Replacement, Tampere, Finland

    Yrjö T. Konttinen

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  1. Rami K. Korhonen
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  2. Petro Julkunen
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  5. Yrjö T. Konttinen
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  6. Jukka S. Jurvelin
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Correspondence to Jukka S. Jurvelin.

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Korhonen, R.K., Julkunen, P., Rieppo, J. et al. Collagen Network of Articular Cartilage Modulates Fluid Flow and Mechanical Stresses in Chondrocyte. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 5, 150–159 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-006-0021-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-006-0021-6

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