Assessment of histological alterations in cartilage and extracellular matrix driven by collagen-induced arthritis in Macaca fascicularis

Intermediate phalangeal proximal joints of six Macaca fascicularis suffering from collagen-induced arthritis were extracted and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde solution. Samples were also taken from disease-free animals as controls. Tissues were embedded in paraffin or epoxy resin for histochemical and ultrastructural observations. Paraffin sections were used for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), cathepsin K, MMP-1, type II collagen, CTX-II (fragmented type II collagen) and fibronectin staining assessments.Control monkeys showed faint immunoreactivity against cathepsin K and MMP-1 in cells covering the articular cartilage and synovial tissues, indicating physiological levels of collagenous degradation. In arthritic animals, more intense cathepsin K and MMP-1 staining was observed in similar locations. ALP-positive osteoblasts and TRAP-reactive osteoclasts were abundant at the subchondral bone in arthritic samples, while control ones depicted fewer osteoclasts and weakly-stained ALP-positive osteoblasts, suggesting stimulated bone turnover in the arthritic group. Interestingly, a thick cell layer covered the articular cartilage with arthritis, and cellular debris overlaid this thick cell layer; nonetheless, articular chondrocytes seemed intact (Figure 1). In arthritic joints, the synovial tissues displayed cellular debris in abundance. CTX-II was seen in the superficial layer of the articular cartilage in arthritic samples, but it was virtually absent in the control group. Fibronectin also accumulated on the surface of the arthritic cartilage.Based on the evidence provided, it is possible that matrix degradation starts not from the adjacent subchondral bone, but from the most superficial region of the arthritic cartilage.