Download PDF

J. Embryol exp. Morph. Vol. 57, pp. 51-60, 1980
Printed in Great Britain © Company of Biologists Limited 1980
5J
Changes in the patterns of collagens and
fibronectin during limb-bud chondrogenesis
By W. DESSAU, 1 H. VON DER MARK, K. VON DER MARK
AND S. FISCHER
From the Max-Planck-Institut fur Biochemie,
Dept. of Connective Tissue Research, Martinsried bei Munchen, FRG
SUMMARY
The distribution and sequence of appearance of fibronectin and of type-I and type-II
collagen in the developing cartilage models of embryonic chick hind-limb buds was studied
by immunofluorescence, using specific antibodies directed against these proteins. Fibronectin
and type-I collagen are evenly distributed throughout the intercellular space of the mesenchyme prior to condensation of core mesenchyme of the limb anlage and formation of the
cartilage blastema. With the onset of the condensation process fibronectin and type-I collagen
appear to increase in the cartilage blastema compared to the surrounding loose mesenchyme,
reaching a maximal density at the time of cartilage differentiation. The latter process is
marked by the appearance of type-II collagen in the cartilage blastema. As cartilage differentiation progresses, type-I collagen is gradually replaced by type-II collagen; fibronectin
disappears and is completely absent from mature cartilage.
The transient appearance of type-I collagen and fibronectin suggests a temporal role in
cell-matrix or cell-cell interactions in chondrogenesis, since it had been shown that (a) type-I
collagen substrates stimulate cell proliferation and cartilage differentiation in limb-bud
mesenchyme cell cultures; (b) fibronectin mediates attachment of cells to collagen
substrates; and (c) fibronectin is directly involved in cellular interactions in chondrocyte
cultures.
INTRODUCTION
The mesenchyme of a vertebrate limb bud develops primarily into four types
of tissues: cartilage, bone, muscle, and connective tissue. Cartilage differentiation begins with a cellular condensation process in the core of the proximal
half of the limb (Fell & Canti, 1934; Jurand, 1965). While in the undifferentiated
mesenchyme, cells are loosely packed and connected by sparse cellular processes. The number of intercellular associations and the cell density increase
during the condensation phase (Searls, 1973; Thorogood & Hinchliffe, 1975) to
form the so-called cartilage blastema, representing the bone anlage. Classically,
expression of the cartilage phenotype in the blastema is indicated by the secretion
of a metachromatic extracellular matrix.
1
Author's address: Max-Planck Institut fur Biochemie D-8033 Martinsried bei Munchen,
FRG.
52
W. DESSAU AND OTHERS
The transient condensation during the phase which precedes chondrogenesis
has drawn the attention of many investigators in the past (Saunders, 1948; Ede
& Agerbak, 1968; Thorogood & Hinchliffe, 1975; for review see Ede, Hinchliffe & Balls, 1977). It is in this stage that cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions
which may be involved in the process of chondrogenic differentiation are likely
to occur. Our previous studies have shown that the condensation of chick limbbud mesenchyme is associated with the deposition of type-I collagen in the
extracellular matrix (von der Mark, von der Mark & Gay, 1976a). This finding
was in agreement with biochemical studies on collagen-type transitions during
cartilage and bone formation in the chick limb bud (Linsenmayer, Toole &
Trelstad, 1973). It was reported that the pre-cartilaginous limb-bud mesenchyme at stage 23-24 contained type-I collagen. Onset of type-II collagen
synthesis in the limb core at stage 25-26, concomitant with the appearance of
metachromatic staining of the extracellular matrix, indicated the emergence of
differentiated cartilage. The type-I collagen is no longer present in mature
cartilage (Linsenmayer et al. 1973; von der Mark et al. 1976a; von der Mark,
1979).
It is still unclear if the transitory appearance of the type-I collagen in the
cartilage blastema has functional significance. The possibility exists that it may
be involved in developmental processes. Cell culture experiments on dissociated
chick limb mesodermal cells suggest that exogenous collagen substrates increase
the rate of chondrogenic differentiation (von der Mark, 1978).
From studies by Linder, Vaheri, Rouslahti & Wartiovaara (1975), Stenman &
Vaheri (1978) and Wartiovaara, Leivo & Vaheri (1979) it became apparent that
another matrix molecule, fibronectin, is present in undifferentiated mesenchyme,
but not in mature cartilage. Fibronectin, which is a major cell surface glycoprotein, mediates cell interactions with collagen (Klebe, 1974; Klebe et al. 1977).
It has an affinity to native and denatured collagens, and binds preferentially to
cyanogen bromide fragments in the carboxyterminal region of the collagen
molecule (Kleinman, McGoodwin & Klebe, 1976; Dessau, Adelman, Timpl &
Martin, 1978 a). The collagenase cleavage site is present in this region of the
molecule (Kleinman et al. 1978).
Assuming that fibronectin also participates in cell-collagen interactions
occurring in the cartilage blastema of the limb bud prior to expression of the
cartilage phenotype, a maximum of fibronectin deposition in the developing
cartilage would be expected at the time of maximal intercellular deposition of
type-I collagen. In order to obtain further information on the role of matrix
macromolecules, we have studied the temporal and spatial sequence of fibronectin, type-I and type-II collagen deposition in the early stages of the developing chick hind-limb bud.
Collagens and fibronectin in limb-bud chondrogenesis
53
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Histological techniques
White Leghorn chick embryos were incubated at 37 °C under moisture, and
staged according to Hamburger & Hamilton (1951). Limb buds at various stages
were removed, fixed in 4 % formaldehyde in PBS (phosphate-buffered saline)
for 30 min and transferred to 3 % sucrose in PBS, embedded in 'Compound'
Tissue Tek (Miles, Naperville, 111., USA) and quick frozen at dry-ice temperature. Frozen sections, 8/*m thick, were cut with a SLEE-Cryotome (Mainz,
FRG) and incubated for 30 min at room temperature with antibodies to collagens or fibronectin, washed with PBS and incubated for 30 min at room temperature with fluorescein-conjugated rabbit anti-guinea pig y globulin or goat antirabbit y globulin (Behringwerke, Marburg, FRG). Double-staining experiments
for simultaneous localization of type-II collagen and fibronectin were performed
using rabbit antibodies to fibronectin which were counter-stained with rhodamine-labelled goat anti-rabbit y globulin, and guinea-pig antibodies to type-II
collagen which were counter-stained with fluorescein-conjugated rabbit antiguinea-pig y globulin.
Antibodies
Antisera to chick type-1 and type-II collagen were raised in rabbits and
guinea pigs, purified by immunoadsorption and tested for specificity as described
earlier (von der Mark et al. 1976a). No cross-reaction of antibodies against
type-I collagen was observed with type-II and type-Ill collagen. Nor was there
cross-reaction of antibodies against type-II collagen with type-I and type-Ill
collagen (H. Herrmann, W. Dessau, L. Fessler & K. von der Mark, in preparation). Rabbit antibodies to human plasma fibronectin (CIG) were kindly
provided by Dr R. Timpl. Cross-reaction between anti-human fibronectin antibodies and chick fibronectin has been established previously (Dessau et al.
19786).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
By immunofluorescence labelling we were able to identify type-I collagen and
fibronectin in the developing chick limb bud as early as stage 19. Both proteins
are localized in the interstitial space of the mesenchyme as well as in the ectodermal-mesodermal interface. Until stage 22-23, the extracellular type-I
collagen mesh work is evenly distributed throughout the mesenchyme (Fig.
1B, C). Antibodies to fibronectin also reveal an even staining pattern, almost
identical to that observed with antibodies to type-I collagen (Fig. \A). The
presence of fibronectin in the mesenchymal tissue of stages 19-23 shows that
fibronectin is an early matrix protein and suggests that it may be involved in the
differentiation processes.
54
W. DESSAU AND OTHERS
lOOum
Fig. 1. Immunofluorescent localization of fibronectin (A) and type-I collagen (B, C)
in the mesenchyme of a stage-23 embryonic chick hind-limb bud. Frozen sections
were stained with rabbit antibodies to fibronectin (37 /tg/ml) (A) or guinea-pig antibodies to chick type-I collagen (136/tg/ml) (B, C). (C) Higher magnification of (B);
brightfluorescenceat the ectodermal/mesodermal interface indicates the site of the
presumptive dermis. (A) and (B), x 200; (C) x 300.
Collagens and fibronectin in limb-bud chondrogenesis
55
Fig. 2. (A) Guinea-pig antibodies to type-I collagen stain the cartilage blastema of
the femur in a late stage-24 hind-limb bud more intensely than the surrounding
mesenchyme. (B) Onset of cartilage differentiation in the blastema is indicated by a
positive fluorescence with antibodies to type-ll collagen (guinea-pig anti-chick type-II
collagen, 82 /ig ml), x 300.
When cells in the limb core start to condense at stage 23-24, a slight increase
in the intensity of type-I-collagen staining compared to the peripheral mesenchyme can be observed. At late stage 24, type-ll collagen appears in the blastema
in addition to type-I collagen, indicating the onset of cartilage differentiation
(Fig. 2A, B). The pattern of fibronectin followed that of type-I collagen. A
parallel section stained for chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans with Alcian
blue in the presence of 0-3 M-MgCl2 shows a weak reaction in the same area that
type-II-collagen stain was found (not shown). In a previous study type-II
collagen was first found at stage 26 in the cartilage blastema (von der Mark et al.
1916a, b). Due to improvement of the immunofluorescence technique we are
now able to identify type-II collagen in addition to type-I collagen in the
blastema as early as stage 24.
Between stages 24 and 26, fibronectin and type-I and type-II collagen occur
together in the developing cartilage of the long bones. Fibronectin and type-I
collagen are most prominent in the cartilage blastema, but are also present in
56
W. DESSAU AND OTHERS
Collagens and fibronectin in limb-bud chondrogenesis
57
peripheral mesenchyme, while type-II collagen is restricted to cartilage. At stage
25 the staining with antibodies to type-I and type-II collagen and fibronectin
reveals the Y-shaped blastema, representing the anlage of femur, tibia and
fibula (Fig. 3A-D). Type-1 collagen and fibronectin reach maximal density at
that stage.
With further maturation of cartilage, type-I collagen and fibronectin begin to
disappear from the cartilage matrix and are gradually replaced by type-II
collagen (Fig. 4c). Fibronectin and type-I collagen, however, persist in the
perichondrium (Fig. 4A, B) in other connective tissues such as tendons and
ligaments, and in vessels. The mature cartilage matrix is completely devoid of
both proteins (see also Dessau et al. 1978 a).
These results show that in the developing limb, type-I collagen and fibronectin occur at maximal density at a stage which coincides with onset of expression of the cartilage phenotype. Although not conclusive, this suggests that both
proteins may be involved in cell-matrix or cell-cell interactions which may be
required for chondrogenic differentiation. In several other systems the ability of
collagen substrates to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation has been
described. Collagen types I-1V stimulate corneal differentiation (Meier & Hay,
1974; Hay, 1977), somite differentiation (Kosher & Church, 1975; Lash &
Vasan, 1978, von der Mark, 1978) and fusion of myoblasts (Konigsberg &
Hauschka, 1965).
The possibility exists that the collagen of the mesenchymal extracellular
matrix in the prechondrogenic mesenchyme serves as a substrate which allows
cell proliferation. It may thus contribute to the cell condensation process by
increasing the cell density. In support of this view is the finding reported here
that extracellular type-I collagen and fibronectin are co-distributed. Fibronectin
may participate in cell-collagen interactions during the condensation phase.
Alternatively, fibronectin may be directly involved in cell-cell interactions. The
latter hypothesis is strengthened by the fact that fibronectin is completely absent
from mature hyaline cartilage in which cellular interactions are prevented by an
extensive extracellular matrix (Dessau et al. 1978 a).
A transient appearance of type-I collagen before cartilage differentiation has
also been observed in vitro. When dissociated limb-bud mesodermal cells are
FIGURE 3
Co-distribution of fibronectin (A), type-I collagen (C) and type-II collagen (B, D)
in the cartilage blastema of a stage-25 limb bud.
(A, B): Double staining with rabbit anti-fibronectin (A) and guinea-pig anti-type-II
collagen on the same section (B).
(C, D): Consecutive sections stained with guinea-pig anti-type-I collagen (C) and
guinea-pig anti-type-II collagen antibodies (D).
J\ Femur, x 200.
Fig. 4. Cross section through tibia of a stage-29 chick embryo leg. Immunofluorescence labelling of consecutive sections with antifibronectin (A), anti-type I collagen (B) and anti-type II collagen (C) shows that fibronectin and type-I collagen disappear from the
mature cartilage matrix but become prominent in the surrounding connective tissue. T = tibia, F = fibula, x 150.
on
H
O
a
oo
Collagens and fibronectin in limb-bud chondrogenesis
59
cultured at densities greater than confluency, cell aggregates form after 2-3 days
in culture, and subsequently develop into nodules of hyaline cartilage (Caplan,
1970; Solursh & Reiter, 1975; von der Mark & von der Mark, 1977, Ahrens,
Solursh & Reiter, 1977). Those prechondrogenic aggregates show an extensive
extracellular meshwork of fibronectin and type-I collagen (Sasse & von der
Mark, in preparation), which becomes replaced by type-II collagen and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan with progressive maturation of the cartilage.
Direct involvement of fibronectin in cellular interactions is also suggested
from studies on matrix production by chondrocytes from hyaline cartilage
(Dessau et al. 1978a). Dissociation of the cartilage matrix and release of chondrocytes reinitiates the synthesis of fibronectin which connects cells within a
colony by short, intercellular strands. This intercellular fibronectin meshwork
may allow the development of a chondrocyte colony in which cells can reexpress the cartilage phenotype and deposit extracellular cartilage matrix.
Similar to the differentiating cartilage in the limb bud, the extracellular fibronectin disappears with progression of matrix accumulation in chondrocyte
colonies.
We wish to thank Mrs L. Sieweck for skilful technical assistance, Dr A. H. Reddi and Dr
M. Sobel for critical reading of the manuscript, and Prof. K. Kiihn for generous support of
this work. This study was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(Ma 534/4).
REFERENCES
AHRENS, P. B., SOLURSH,
M. & REITER, R. S. (1977). Stage-related capacity for limb chondrogenesis in cell cultures. Devi Biol. 60, 69-82.
CAPLAN, A. I. (1970). Effects of the nicotinamide-sensitive teratogen 3-acetylpyridine on
chick limb cells in culture. Expl Cell. Res. 62, 341-355.
DESSAU, W., ADELMANN, B. C , TIMPL, R. & MARTIN, G. R. (1978a). Identification of the
sites in collagen a-chains that bind serum antigelatin factor (cold insoluble globulin).
Biochem. J. 169, 55-59.
DESSAU, W., SASSE, J., TIMPL, R., JILEK, F. & VON DER MARK, K. (19786). Synthesis and
extracellular deposition of fibronectin in chondrocyte cultures. Response to the removal of
extracellular cartilage matrix. / . Cell Biol. 79, 342-355.
EDE, D. A. & AGERBAK, G. S. (1968). Cell adhesion and movement in relation to the developing limb patterns in normal and talpid chick embryos. /. Embryol. exp. Morph. 20, 81-100.
EDE, D. A., HINCHLIFFE, J. R. & BALLS, M. (1977). Vertebrate limb and somite morphogenesis. Third Symposium of the British Society for Developmental Biology. Cambridge
University Press.
FELL, H. B. & CANTI, R. B. (1934). Experiments on the development in vitro of the avian
kneejoint. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 116, 316-349.
HAY, E. D. (1977). Interaction between the cell surface and extracellular matrix in corneal
development. Cell and Tissue Interactions (ed. J. W. Lash & M. M. Burger) pp. 115-137.
New York: Raven Press.
HAMBURGER, V. & HAMILTON, H. W. (1951). A series of normal stages in the development of
the chick embryo. / . Morph. 88, 49-92.
JURAND, A. (1965). Ultrastructural aspects of early development of the forelimb buds in the
chick and mouse. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 162, 387-405.
KLEBE, R. J. (1974). Isolation of a collagen-dependent cell attachment factor. Nature, Lond.
250,248-251.
60
W. DESSAU AND OTHERS
KLEBE, R. J., ROSENBERGER, P. G., NAYLOR, S. L., BURNS, R. L., NOVAK, R. & KLEFNMAN,
H. (1977). Cell attachment to collagen. Isolation of a cell attachment mutant. Expl Cell
Res. 104, 119-125.
KLEINMAN, H. K., MCGOODWIN, E. B., & KLEBE, R. J. (1976). Localization of the cell attachment region in types I and II collagens. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 72, 426-432.
KLEINMAN, H. K., MCGOODWIN, E. C , MARTIN, G. R., KLEBE, R. J., FIETZEK, P. P. &
WOOLLEY, D. E. (1978). Localization of the binding site for cell attachment in the al(I)
chain of collagen. /. biol. Chem. 253, 5642-5646.
I. R. & HAUSCHKA, S. D. (1965). Cell and tissue interactions in the reproduction
of cell type. In Reproduction: Molecular, Subcellular and Cellular. Twenty-fourth Symposium of the Society for Developmental Biology (ed. M. Locke), pp. 243-290. New York:
Academic Press.
KOSHER, R. A. & CHURCH, R. L. (1975). Stimulation of in vitro somite chondrogenesis by
procollagen and collagen. Nature, Lond. 258, 327-330.
LASH, J. W. & VASAN, N. S. (1978). Somite chondrogenesis in vitro. Stimulation by exogenous
extracellular matrix components. Devi Biol. 66, 151-171.
LINDER, E., VAHERI, A., ROUSLAHTI, E. & WARTIOVAARA, J. (1975). Distribution of fibroblast
surface antigen in the developing chick embryo. /. exp. Med. 142, 41-49.
LINSENMAYER, T. F., TOOLE, B. P. & TRELSTAD, R. L. (1973). Temporal and spatial transitions
in collagen types during embryonic chick limb development. Devi Biol. 35, 232-239.
VON DER MARK, K. (1978). Biochemical processes in cartilage and bone formation: Effect of
collagen on the chondrogenic differentiation of somite and limb bud mesenchyme. In
FEBS Federation of European Biochemical Societies 11th Meeting Copenhagen 1977 (ed.
K. W. Kastrup & J. H. Nielsen), vol. 48, colloquium B3. Oxford, New York: Pergamon
Press.
VON DER MARK, K. (1979) Immunological studies on collagen type transition in chondrogenesis. Current Topics in Developmental Biology. (In the Press.)
VON DER MARK, K. & VON DER MARK, H. (1977). Immunological and biochemical studies of
collagen type transition during in vitro chondrogenesis of chick limb mesodermal cells.
/ . Cell Biol. 73, 136-141.
VON DER MARK, H., VON DER MARK, K. & GAY, S. (1976a). Study of differential collagen
synthesis during development of the chick embryo by immunofluorescence. I. Preparation
of collagen type I and type II specific antibodies and their application to early stages of the
chick embryo. Devi Biol. 48, 237-249.
VON DER MARK, K., VON DER MARK, H. & GAY, S. (19766). Study of differential collagen
synthesis during development of the chick embryo by immunofluorescence. II. Localization
of type 1 and type II collagen during long bone development. Devi Biol. 53,153-170.
MEIER, S. and HAY, E. D. (1974). Control of corneal differentiation by extracellular materials
Collagen as a promotor and stabilizer of epithelial stroma production. Devi Biol. 38, 249270.
SAUNDERS, J. W. JR. (1948). The proximo-distal sequences of origin of the parts of the chick
wing and the role of the ectoderm. /. exp. Zool. 1-8, 363-403.
SEARLS, R. (1973). Chondrogenesis. In Developmental Regulation (ed. S. J. Coward), pp. 219250. New York: Academic Press.
SOLURSH, M. & REITER, R. S. (1975). The enhancement of in vitro survival and chondrogenesis of limb bud cells in cartilage conditioned medium. Devi Biol. 44, 278-287.
STENMAN, S. & VAHERI, A. (1978) Distribution of a major connective tissue protein, fibronectin, in normal human tissues. /. exp. Med. 147, 1054-1063.
THOROGOOD, P. V. & HINCHLIFFE, J. R. (1975). An analysis of the condensation process during
chondrogenesis in the embryonic chick hind limb. /. Embryol. exp. Morph. 33, 581-606.
WARTIOVAARA, J., LEIVO, I. & VAHERI, A. (1979). Expression of the cell surface-associated
glycoprotein, fibronectin, in the early mouse embryo. Devi Biol. 69, 247-257.
KONIGSBERG,
{Received 11 June 1979, revised 13 December 1979)