Differences between muscle from osteoporotic and osteoarthritic subjects: in vitro study by diffusion-tensor MRI and histological findings

Giulia Di Pietro; Manuel Scimeca; Riccardo Iundusi; Monica Celi; Elena Gasbarra; Umberto Tarantino; Silvia Capuani

doi:10.1007/s40520-020-01483-6

Differences between muscle from osteoporotic and osteoarthritic subjects: in vitro study by diffusion-tensor MRI and histological findings

Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020 Dec;32(12):2489-2499. doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01483-6. Epub 2020 Feb 6.

Authors

Giulia Di Pietro^{1

2}, Manuel Scimeca³, Riccardo Iundusi¹, Monica Celi¹, Elena Gasbarra¹, Umberto Tarantino¹, Silvia Capuani^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, "Policlinico Tor Vergata" Foundation, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome, 00133, Italy.
² CNR ISC Roma Sapienza, Physics Department, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, 00185, Italy.
³ Anatomic Pathology Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
⁴ CNR ISC Roma Sapienza, Physics Department, "Sapienza", University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, 00185, Italy. silvia.capuani@roma1.infn.it.
⁵ Centro Fermi - Museo Storico Della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche Enrico Fermi, Piazza del Viminale 1, Rome, 00184, Italy. silvia.capuani@roma1.infn.it.

PMID: 32026431
DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01483-6

Abstract

Background: Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are strongly coupled with alterations of muscles quality and fats metabolism. However, there are no studies for investigating possible differences between osteoporotic and osteoarthritic muscles. Understanding muscle-bone and muscle-cartilage interactions would be of high clinical value.

Aim: Investigate potential microstructural and physiological differences between osteoporotic and osteoarthritic muscles by diffusion Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) imaging (diffusion MRI) and histological findings.

Methods: Vastus-lateralis muscles excised from osteoporotic (n = 26, T Score < - 2.5, Kellgren-Lawrence ≤ 2) and osteoarthritic (n = 26, T Score > - 2.5, Kellgren--Lawrence 3 and 4) age-matched women were investigated by NMR relaxometry, diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) at 9.4 T, and histological techniques. Intramyocellular (IMCL) and extramyocellular (EMCL) lipid were quantified. The percentage and mean diameters of fibers I and II were evaluated. Relationship between mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), the DTI eigenvalues (λ₁, λ₂, λ₃), histological findings in muscles and clinical data (Kellgren-Lawrence and T score, age, menopausal age, body mass index) were studied. Pairwise comparisons between groups were made using one-way analysis of variance and correlation between variables was assessed with linear correlation analysis (Pearson's r coefficient).

Results: Osteoporotic muscles showed higher MD, λ_1, λ₂, λ₃ compared to osteoarthritis ones. This is explainable with a significant higher density of IMCL droplets found inside the osteoarthritic muscles and a large amount of fibrotic tissue and IMCL infiltration between fibers, i.e. in endomysium and perimysium that lead to a more hindered diffusion. Furthermore, histological analysis suggests mitochondrial degeneration as the origin of the greatest amount of IMCL droplets in osteoarthritic muscles.

Conclusion: This work highlights differences between muscles of osteoporotic and osteoarthritic subjects that can be quantified by NMR DTI investigations.

Keywords: DTI; IMCL; Osteoarthritis; Osteoporosis; Skeletal muscle.

MeSH terms

Anisotropy
Diffusion Tensor Imaging*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging
Quadriceps Muscle

Grants and funding

n. DC-DTE-2011-033/Agenzia Spaziale Italiana