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Basic and translational research
Extended report
Changes in matrix protein biochemistry and the expression of mRNA encoding matrix proteins and metalloproteinases in posterior tibialis tendinopathy
  1. Anthony N Corps1,
  2. Andrew H N Robinson2,
  3. Rebecca L Harrall1,
  4. Nicholas C Avery3,
  5. Valerie A Curry1,
  6. Brian L Hazleman1,
  7. Graham P Riley4
  1. 1Rheumatology Research Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
  2. 2Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
  3. 3Matrix Biology Research Group, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
  4. 4School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
  1. Correspondence to Graham Peter Riley, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Earlham Road, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK; graham.riley{at}uea.ac.uk

Abstract

Objectives Adult-acquired flat foot secondary to a dysfunctional posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) is often treated by surgical transfer of the flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT). In this study, the authors compared normal PTT, stage II dysfunctional PTT and replacement FDLT, aiming to define changes in collagen modification, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the expression of matrix and metalloproteinase mRNA.

Methods Normal PTTs were obtained from patients with no history of tendon problems. Samples of dysfunctional PTT and replacement FDLT tissue were obtained from patients undergoing surgical reconstruction. Tissue samples were analysed for total collagen and GAG, pentosidine and collagen cross-links. Total RNA was assayed for mRNA encoding matrix proteins and metalloproteinases, using real-time reverse transcription PCR. Differences between clinical groups were assessed using non-parametric statistics.

Results Dysfunctional PTT contained higher levels of GAG and lower levels of pentosidine than normal PTT or FDLT. In contrast, collagen in FDLT contained fewer ketoimine and more aldimine cross-links than either normal or dysfunctional PTT. mRNA encoding types I and III collagens, aggrecan, biglycan, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, -13 and -23, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)-12L each showed increased levels in dysfunctional PTT compared with either normal PTT or (except MMP-13) FDLT. In contrast, MMP-3 and ADAM with thrombospondin domain (ADAMTS)-5 mRNA were lower in both dysfunctional PTT and FDLT than in normal PTT, while ADAMTS-1 mRNA was lower in dysfunctional PTT than in FDLT.

Conclusions Stage II dysfunctional PTT shows biochemical and molecular changes consistent with a chronic remodelling of the extracellular matrix, rather than rupture, while the replacement FDLT resembles normal PTT in many, but not all, parameters.

This paper is freely available online under the BMJ Journals unlocked scheme, see http://ard.bmj.com/info/unlocked.dtl

https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200391

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    Introduction

    Dysfunction of the human posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) is a common cause of adult-acquired flat foot. PTT disease particularly affects middle-aged women and causes a significant proportion of the tendon pathology seen in the clinic.1,–,5 In stage II dysfunction, in which the foot retains flexibility and the defect is correctible, the PTT is elongated and shows marked degeneration, but is not generally ruptured.2,–,5 The preferred surgical treatment involves tendon transfer to restore functional support of the foot arch, normally using the neighbouring flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT), with a calcaneal osteotomy to enhance biomechanical performance.2 5,–,7

    The extracellular matrix of tendons varies between different tendons and regionally within tendons, and there are changes in tendinopathy or ruptured tendons compared with normal tendons.8 9 There is a linear, age-dependent accumulation of collagen modifications in human biceps brachii and patellar tendons that indicates a low rate of turnover of the matrix.10,–,12 The absence of an equivalent accumulation of modifications in supraspinatus tendons is consistent with a higher level of collagen replacement in these injury-prone tendons.10 A difference in collagen turnover rates has also been described recently in equine common digital extensor and superficial digital flexor tendons.13 In normal tendons, versican is the predominant large aggregating proteoglycan in the tensile mid-tendon, but aggrecan, which is characteristic of cartilage, is present in fibrocartilaginous regions where the tendons attach to bone or wrap around pivots.14 15 In chronic Achilles tendinopathy, increased glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels in the morphologically abnormal mid-tendon indicate increased proteoglycan,16 and high levels of mRNA encoding aggrecan and biglycan are expressed.17 The observed differences in matrix protein composition may also involve changed expression and/or activity of many enzymes of the metalloproteinase clan.18 19

    In the normal PTT, as in other tendons, fibrocartilaginous regions enriched in aggrecan and type II collagen are found at the entheses and on the inner zone of the tendon where it wraps around the medial malleolus.20 21 In stage II PTT dysfunction, hypercellularity, increased vascularisation, increased mucin levels and a disrupted collagen matrix containing a higher proportion of types III and V collagens have been reported.22,–,24 Otherwise, however, little is known of the detailed biochemical and molecular changes underlying PTT dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to determine how biochemical markers of matrix composition, and the expression of mRNA encoding a range of matrix components and metalloproteinases, shown previously to change significantly in other tendinopathies,17 19 varied between normal and stage II dysfunctional PTT. Given that the PTT and FDLT are functionally different tendons, and may therefore have different composition (see Discussion), we also assayed the same parameters in the FDLT used for reconstruction.

    Methods

    Tendon specimens

    Consistent with PTT dysfunction occurring more widely in women, the majority of patients presenting in this study were female (table 1). Samples of PTT and FDLT tissue were obtained from patients clinically staged as having stage II PTT dysfunction and being surgically treated with FDLT transfer. Specimens of normal PTT were obtained from patients with no history of tendon problems, either undergoing lower limb amputation for bone tumours (Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore) or with foot drop (usually resulting from a slipped intervertebral disc) being corrected by the transfer of normal PTT (Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge). Procedures were approved by the relevant local research ethics committees, and written consent was obtained from informed patients.

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Normal PTT, stage II PTT and FDLT samples

    Specimens of normal PTT and FDLT generally showed normal tendon organisation, whereas specimens from patients with stage II PTT dysfunction showed features typical of tendinopathy (table 1).16 22 24 25 Although morphologically normal, we could not exclude the possibility that the phenotype of the normal PTT may have been affected by reduced weight-bearing and mobility, and/or chemotherapy.

    Histological and biochemical characterisation, isolation of total RNA, and analysis by relative quantitative PCR

    See online supplementary text for a description of these methods.

    Statistical analysis

    Differences between clinical groups are described as n-fold differences between the medians and were analysed using either the Mann–Whitney U test or, for the paired samples of dysfunctional PTT and FDLT, the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

    Results

    Biochemical analysis of PTT and FDLT from female patients

    Tendon collagen and proteoglycan content

    The median collagen content of normal PTT, dysfunctional PTT and FDLT samples from female patients showed no significant differences (table 2). In contrast, significant differences in proteoglycan content were observed: dysfunctional PTT contained twofold and sixfold higher levels of GAG than normal PTT and FDLT, respectively. The threefold higher level of GAG in normal PTT compared with FDLT was also significant (table 2).

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Collagen content, GAG content and collagen modifications in normal PTT, stage II PTT and FDLT from female patients

    Pentosidine modification and cross-linking of collagen

    Normal PTT showed a linear increase in pentosidine (non-enzymatic glycation of collagen) with increasing age of the donor, and FDLT generally showed a similar pentosidine content to normal PTT of equivalent age (figure 1A). In contrast, dysfunctional PTT collagen contained significantly lower levels of pentosidine than that predicted by age from normal PTT or paired FDLT samples (figure 1A, table 2).

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Accumulation of pentosidine and hydroxylysyl pyridinoline cross-links in collagen in female posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) and flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT) as a function of age. (A) Pentosidine and (B) OHPyr cross-links were determined by HPLC as outlined in the text, and plotted against the age of the donor. Each point represents an individual sample. The broken line shows linear regression analysis based on the normal PTT samples: (A) R2=0.92, p=0.01; (B) R2=0.85, p=0.02.

    When the pattern of collagen cross-linking was considered, FDLT differed markedly from both normal and dysfunctional PTT (table 2). Ketoimine cross-link levels were lower in FDLT than in either normal or dysfunctional PTT; this was due to differences in hydroxylysyl pyridinoline (OHPyr) levels, not in hydroxylysino-5-ketonorleucine (HLKNL) (table 2), and applied across the age range (figure 1B). In contrast, aldimine cross-link levels were higher in FDLT than in either the normal or dysfunctional PTT, and this was due to differences in both histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine (HHL) and hydroxylysinonorleucine (HLNL) levels (table 2). Similarly to the results for the pentosidine modification, OHPyr levels in normal PTT showed some increase with age, and samples of dysfunctional PTT contained lower levels of OHPyr than predicted by age from normal PTT (figure 1B).

    mRNA expression in PTT and FDLT from female patients

    Of the mRNA assayed, only matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 mRNA showed a significant change with increasing age, a small increase in normal PTT (data not shown); however, this could not account for the difference observed between normal and dysfunctional PTT (see below).

    mRNA encoding collagens and proteoglycans

    mRNA of each of the major extracellular matrix proteins was readily detected in all samples of PTT and FDLT (table 3, figures 2 and 3). mRNA of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan, decorin, was expressed at the highest levels (∼10−3 relative to 18S rRNA), and showed no significant differences between the three clinical groups (figure 2A). mRNA of the large aggregating proteoglycan, versican, also showed no difference between normal and dysfunctional PTT, but showed 60% higher expression in dysfunctional PTT than in FDLT (figure 2C). Types I and III collagens (α1 chains), aggrecan and biglycan each showed between threefold and 10-fold higher mRNA expression in dysfunctional PTT than in either normal PTT or FDLT, which were not significantly different from each other (table 3; figures 2B and 3A).

    Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Expression of mRNA in female posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) and flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT). Tendon RNA samples were analysed for specific mRNA, expressed relative to 18S rRNA as outlined in the text. Each point represents an individual sample. nd (y-axis) indicates that the mRNA was not detectable (below 2×10−9 relative to 18S) in one or more samples. The median values are shown (horizontal bar). ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.05, for differences between the indicated clinical groups. ADAMTS, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin domain; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; N, normal; St II, stage II.

    Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Comparison of mRNA expression in female (closed circle) and male (open circle) posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) and flexor digitorum longus tendon (FDLT). Tendon RNA samples were analysed for specific mRNA, expressed relative to 18S rRNA as outlined in the text. Each point represents an individual sample. The median values are shown (horizontal bar). Significant differences between clinical groups for female patients are indicated fffp<0.001, ffp<0.01, and for male patients are indicated mp<0.05. Significant differences between females and males of the same clinical group are indicated **p<0.01, *p<0.05. MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; N, normal; St II, stage II.

    View this table:
    Table 3

    mRNA expression in normal PTT, stage II PTT and FDLT from female patients

    mRNA encoding metalloproteinases

    In normal PTT, MMP-2 and MMP-3 were the most highly expressed of the metalloproteinase mRNAs, while mRNA levels of the collagenases, MMP-1 and MMP-13, were low or undetectable (table 3). The expression of mRNA of MMP-2, MMP-23 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM)-12L were each increased between fourfold and 16-fold in dysfunctional PTT compared with normal PTT, and there was detectable expression of MMP-13 in most dysfunctional PTT (table 3; figures 2D and 3B). mRNA levels of MMP-2, MMP-23 and ADAM-12L were also higher in dysfunctional PTT than in FDLT (table 3). In contrast with the other MMPs, expression of MMP-3 mRNA had decreased 15-fold in both dysfunctional PTT and FDLT compared with normal PTT, but there was no significant difference between dysfunctional PTT and FDLT (table 3; figure 3C).

    mRNA expression of the three major ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin domain) aggrecanases showed smaller changes than the other metalloproteinases, and each ADAMTS mRNA showed a different pattern (table 3). ADAMTS-5 mRNA levels were lower in both dysfunctional PTT and FDLT than in normal PTT (figure 2E). ADAMTS-1 mRNA levels in dysfunctional PTT were lower than in FDLT, although neither of these groups showed a significant difference from normal PTT (figure 2F). ADAMTS-4 mRNA showed no substantial difference between the three tendon groups, although a small increase (20%) in median values in dysfunctional PTT compared with the paired FDLT samples was statistically significant (table 3).

    Analysis of PTT and FDLT from male patients

    The male samples also showed significant biochemical and mRNA differences between clinical groups: (A) fourfold higher levels of GAG in dysfunctional PTT than in FDLT (p<0.05); (B) more than twofold higher levels of pentosidine in FDLT than in dysfunctional PTT (p=0.01); (C) lower levels of OHPyr cross-links in FDLT than in either normal or dysfunctional PTT (p=0.05 and p=0.01 respectively); (D) higher levels of HHL and HLNL cross-links in FDLT than in either normal or dysfunctional PTT (p≤0.01 in each comparison); (E) higher expression of mRNA encoding types I and III collagen, aggrecan, biglycan, versican and MMP-2 mRNA in dysfunctional PTT compared with normal PTT and/or FDLT (figure 3A, B and data not shown).

    Each of these differences in the male sample set was similar to that observed in female patients, and there were no significant differences between men and women in total collagen, total GAG, collagen modifications and most mRNA, in any of the three clinical groups (data not shown and figure 3). Indeed, combining the male and female datasets for many parameters increased the statistical significance of the differences observed between clinical groups, compared with the female data alone, irrespective of whether the male data analysed separately showed significant changes. However, certain mRNA differences were observed between men and women. Levels of type I collagen mRNA in dysfunctional PTT and type III collagen mRNA in FDLT were lower in men than in women, although this did not affect the pattern of higher expression in dysfunctional PTT than in the other clinical groups (figure 3A). In contrast, MMP-3 mRNA was expressed at higher levels in both dysfunctional PTT and FDLT in men compared with women (figure 3C), and there were no differences between the clinical groups for men (figure 3C), in contrast with the marked differences observed in women (figure 3C).

    Discussion

    Differences in matrix composition and cross-link content are found between functionally distinct tendons, and at different sites within tendons. Many of these changes reflect different patterns of loading and matrix turnover, although the relationship to the tendon material properties is uncertain.10 11 13 The PTT is a load-bearing tendon, and the normal specimens in this study were obtained from the region that wrapped around the medial malleolus, and were therefore exposed to some compression, at least on the inner surface.21 The FDLT is predominantly a ‘positional’ tendon, normally not heavily loaded, and the specimens used in this study were obtained from a slip close to the bone insertion which received predominantly tensile loading. Although the normal PTT and FDLT specimens were taken from patients with lower limb conditions, so that effects of reduced mobility on their phenotype cannot be excluded (see Methods), both groups showed normal morphological and histological appearance (table 1). Furthermore, the increase in pentosidine content with age in normal PTT and FDLT (figure 1) is similar to that previously reported in biceps brachii and patellar tendons,10,–,12 indicating that each of these tendons has a stable and long-lived matrix structure in which advanced glycation end products on collagen (and other long-lived proteins) can accumulate linearly with time.

    Although many parameters in the normal PTT and FDLT were similar (tables 2 and 3), there were some marked differences between them. The FDLT contained lower levels of the ketoimine-derived mature cross-link OHPyr than normal PTT and higher levels of the aldimine-derived mature cross-links HHL and HLNL (table 2 and figure 1). Aldimine-derived cross-links are generally more abundant in tendons, whereas ketoimine-derived cross-links are typically higher in bone and cartilage.26 OHPyr is more abundant in weight-bearing and highly stressed tendons,13 such as the supraspinatus tendon in the rotator cuff, which is subjected to compressive loads in addition to tension.10 The cross-link profile of FDLT is broadly similar to other positional tendons, whereas the higher OHPyr content of normal PTT suggests (by analogy with other tendons)10 13 adaptation to compression against the medial malleolus. The FDLT also contained lower levels of GAG and of ADAMTS-5 mRNA than normal PTT (tables 1 and 2), indicating a different proteoglycan composition in the FDLT, possibly requiring lower maintenance turnover than the normal PTT. The fact that the FDLT is used successfully to replace dysfunctional PTT may indicate either that the tendon rapidly adapts to its new location, changing the synthesis of matrix components, or these differences in composition do not significantly affect the material properties of the tendon.

    Both the biochemical and mRNA expression changes described here for stage II dysfunctional PTT can be compared with previous work in other tendons. The lower than expected pentosidine levels in specimens from dysfunctional PTT (figure 1) are similar to those observed in degenerate supraspinatus tendons10 18 and Achilles tendinopathy.27 The reduction in pentosidine/collagen may result from reversal of the modification, removal of old (modified) collagen, or insertion of new (unmodified) collagen. In supraspinatus tendons, replacement of the original collagen matrix was additionally supported by measurement of the racemisation of aspartate, a marker of protein residence time.10 18 In dysfunctional PTT, synthesis of new collagen matrix is indicated by the observed increase in levels of mRNA encoding both types I and III collagens (table 3) and by increased levels of both types III and V collagen proteins.23 Furthermore, increased removal of old collagen is likely, given the increased expression of mRNA encoding the matrix-degrading enzymes MMP-2 (72kDa gelatinase) and MMP-13 (collagenase 3), which were also elevated in Achilles tendinopathy.19 Both these enzymes have activity against a variety of potential substrates, including the main structural component of tendon, fibrillar type I collagen. Taken together, our data indicate that there is a chronic remodelling of the original collagen matrix.

    The higher GAG content in dysfunctional PTT is a common observation in chronic tendinopathy,16 23 28 and has been associated with increased deposition of proteoglycans including aggrecan and biglycan.29 Indeed, the median ratio of aggrecan mRNA/versican mRNA increased from 0.37 in normal PTT to 1.83 in dysfunctional PTT, which is very similar to the increase observed in chronic Achilles tendinopathy.17 These changes in proteoglycan expression may indicate a process of fibrocartilaginous change induced by forces of shear and/or compression acting on the tenocytes, and a switch in cell phenotype from tenocyte to chondrocyte. However, expression of type II collagen mRNA in dysfunctional PTT remained 100- to 1000-fold lower than that of type I and type III (data not shown), which suggests only a partial phenotypic change. Alternatively, the increased production of aggrecan and biglycan may be secondary to injury or part of the chronic remodelling response, potentially stimulated by the activity of cytokines and growth factors such as transforming growth factor β.30

    In addition to increased aggrecan and biglycan expression, the increased proteoglycan content observed in dysfunctional PTT may result in part from a decrease in ADAMTS-5 mRNA expression (table 2). The proteolytic processing of proteoglycans in tendons is evidently a normal process in healthy tendon,31 32 and recent evidence from ADAMTS-5−/− mice indicates that ADAMTS-5 aggrecanase activity is required for the maintenance of normal tendon structure and some biomechanical properties.33 Both the FDLT and Achilles tendons in the ADAMTS-5−/− mice showed increased aggrecan deposition, but the biomechanical changes observed differed between the two tendons.33

    The functional significance of decreased expression of MMP-3 mRNA and increased expression of MMP-23 and ADAM-12 mRNA in dysfunctional PTT is hard to interpret, since the main substrates of these enzymes in tendon are as yet unknown. The expression of MMP-3 mRNA was one of the few parameters to show differences between men and women: lower in dysfunctional PTT (and FDLT) in women but not in men (figure 3C). Whether this gender difference in MMP-3 expression is relevant to the higher incidence of PTT dysfunction in women requires further investigation; previous studies have shown a reduction in MMP-3 expression in Achilles tendinopathy (in men).19 34 Studies on the potential function(s) of MMP-23 have shown some correlation with endochondral ossification and the ability to bind and inhibit potassium channels.35 36 ADAM-12 is linked to tumorigenesis, myogenesis and adipogenesis, and appears to have multiple roles in the processing of growth factors and their receptors.37 Thus both enzymes may be associated with the changes in cell phenotype found in tendinopathy, although ADAM-12 expression is, unusually, increased in ruptured tendons as well as in tendinopathy.19 38 As with other metalloproteinases, consideration must also be given to the extensive post-translational regulation of these enzymes by highly controlled processes of pro-enzyme activation and subsequent inhibition by Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases and other inhibitors in the tissue.39 40 Further studies are required to determine whether these enzymes are proteolytically active in chronic tendinopathy.

    Stage II PTT dysfunction and painful Achilles tendinopathy have different clinical presentations: although both involve swelling and pain, PTT dysfunction presents with deformity and flattening of the foot, whereas deformity is not a clinical problem in Achilles tendinopathy. It is therefore interesting that the gene expression pattern in stage II PTT is in many respects similar to that observed in Achilles tendinopathy.17 19 In contrast, ruptured Achilles tendons showed substantially different changes in enzyme and matrix gene expression,17 19 which may be the consequence and not the cause of the rupture. The molecular differences are consistent with the histological observations (see table 1) that showed similar features in stage II PTT to those observed in painful Achilles tendinopathy, and very different from the typical histology of ruptured tendons.16 19 41 Increased expression of MMP-2, MMP-13, collagen and aggrecan and decreased MMP-3 have also been reported in torn rotator cuff tendons.42,–,45 However, these are often full-thickness tears that also show decreased expression of decorin and increased MMP-9,43,–,45 more similar to ruptured Achilles tendons.17 19 Taken together, the data suggest that the underlying processes in the chronic Achilles and PTT conditions are the same; the presentational differences may simply reflect the different functions of the two musculotendinous structures: maintenance of the foot arch versus push-off during gait. A difference in biomechanical stability, rather than tendon structure, may also underlie the greater susceptibility of women to PTT dysfunction, since many of the biomolecular parameters appear similar in men and women.

    In summary, the ‘stretching out’ of the PTT is accompanied by a process of chronic matrix remodelling, which may be indicative of an incomplete healing response to repeated micro-injury or ‘overuse’. Treatment strategies designed to resolve or enhance the chronic remodelling response are likely to prove beneficial in both Achilles and posterior tibialis tendinopathy.

    Acknowledgments

    We thank Dr Helen Birch (Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, University College London) for the provision of specimens of normal tendon tissues, and Dr Kirsten Legerlotz for useful comments on the manuscript.

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    Supplementary materials

    • Supplementary Data

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    Footnotes

    • Funding This work was supported by Arthritis Research UK (17826), Cambridge Arthritis Research Endeavour (CARE), The Rosetrees Trust, The HB Allen Trust and the Sybil Eastwood Trust.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Ethics approval Cambridge.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.