Differential accumulation of lead and zinc in double-tidemarks of articular cartilage

Abstract

For the first time a differential accumulation of Pb and Zn is documented in regions with double TMs revealing various timescales for the accumulation of these elements. Increased amounts of Pb are present in the TMs (up to the 62-fold of the bone level) featuring a potential source of internal Pb release if the TM region is destroyed.

Increased zinc accumulation in mineralized osteosarcoma tissue measured by confocal synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence analysis

“…[21,22] Confocal synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence analysis Confocal SR-μXRF has proven to be a powerful tool for qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of spatial distribution of trace elements in bone samples. [16][17][18]24] This method takes advantage of various characteristics of synchrotron radiation such as high photon flux, linear polarization, collimation and the easily tunable primary photon energy that enables to detect absolute amounts in the femtogram range (for medium Z elements). Confocal SR-μXRF uses X-ray optics (often polycapillary lenses) on the beam side and in front of the detector to define a detection volume from which the fluorescence radiation is detected, which allows to acquire information from the ROI voxel by voxel.…”

“…[15] We have successfully used this technique to characterize spatial distribution of various trace elements in cartilage and bone samples. [16][17][18] However, little is known about Zn levels in osteosarcoma. The aims of this study were to investigate the Zn content as well as its spatial distribution in human mineralized osteosarcoma tissue and compare it to adjacent normal bone using both confocal SR-μXRF and quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI) acquiring the signals only from near surface (about 1-μm-depth resolution).…”

Regulation of the Catabolic Cascade in Osteoarthritis by the Zinc-ZIP8-MTF1 Axis

“…There has been a growing interest in the potential role of Zn 2+ in the pathogenesis of OA. Clinical studies indicate highly elevated serum Zn 2+ levels in OA patients (Ovesen et al, 2009) and specific accumulation of Zn 2+ in the tidemark region of articular cartilage in aged populations (Roschger et al, 2013). The association of Zn 2+ with OA pathogenesis is broadly appreciated in the context of its role as a structural component of matrix-degrading enzymes required for the maturation and activation of these enzymes.…”

Large‐scale high‐resolution micro‐XRF analysis of histological structures in the skin of the pigeon beak

“…Fast‐scanning high‐resolution XRF provides semi‐quantitative distribution images of histologically relevant chemical elements . The size and resolution of these images are comparable with the results of classical histological microscopy and show characteristic functional organelles and structures (dermal layers, including connective tissue with, for example, lipocytes, fibrillary networks and glands; arteries, veins, capillaries and blood corpuscles; nervous axon bundles and fine dendritic processes), which can be clearly distinguished and imaged.…”