Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on calcified tissues
Bone Abstracts (2013) 1 PP21 | DOI: 10.1530/boneabs.1.PP21

ECTS2013 Poster Presentations Arthritis and other joint diseases: translational and clinical (18 abstracts)

Monosodium urate crystals inhibit tenocyte viability and function: implications for periarticular involvement in chronic gout

Ashika Chhana 1 , Karen Callon 1 , Michael Dray 2 , Bregina Pool 1 , Dorit Naot 1 , Greg Gamble 1 , Brendan Coleman 3 , Fiona McQueen 1 , Jillian Cornish 1 & Nicola Dalbeth 1


1University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; 2Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand; 3Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.


Background: In patients with gout, urate deposition has been observed both adjacent to and within tendons, suggesting that monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals are likely to be in direct contact with tenocytes, the stromal cells of tendons. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of MSU crystals on tenocyte viability and function.

Methods: Cultures of primary rat tenocytes were prepared from Wistar rat tails. Primary human tenocytes were prepared from patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. MTT assays were used to assess tenocyte viability following culture with MSU crystals and flow cytometry was used to determine changes in the levels of apoptosis. Real-time PCR was used to determine changes in gene expression and Sirius red staining to detect changes in collagen deposition in tenocytes cultured with MSU crystals.

Results: MSU crystals reduced viability in a dose-dependent manner in both primary rat and human tenocytes. Differing MSU crystal lengths and increased serum levels in cultures did not alter this effect. Soluble uric acid did not reduce cell viability. Flow cytometry showed that MSU crystals rapidly induced cell death, but apoptosis levels remained unchanged. Culture with MSU crystals reduced mRNA expression of collagen types 1 and 3; and tenocytic markers, including tenomodulin, scleraxis and tenascin-C. Collagen deposition was inhibited in tenocytes cultured with MSU crystals in a dose dependent manner. In joint samples from patients with chronic gout, MSU crystals were identified within the tendon, adjacent to and invading into tendon, and at the enthesis.

Conclusion: These data indicate that MSU crystals directly interact with tenocytes to reduce cell viability and function. These interactions may contribute to tendon damage in patients with chronic gout.

Volume 1

European Calcified Tissue Society Congress 2013

Lisbon, Portugal
18 May 2013 - 22 May 2013

European Calcified Tissue Society 

Browse other volumes

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.