Osteoclast Numbers in Lewis Rats with Adjuvant-induced Arthritis: Identification of Preferred Sites and Parameters for Rapid Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

This study defined the best site for quantifying osteoclasts in male Lewis rats with mycobacteria-induced adjuvant arthritis. Hind paw sections of normal and arthritic rats (n = 6 per group) taken 7 days after disease onset were stained for osteoclasts using an anti-human cathepsin K primary antibody. Erosions and osteoclasts were assessed using semiquantitative scores (entire section) and quantitative measures (in calcaneus, navicular tarsal, and tibia). Bone area in arthritic rats was significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) by 39–55%, with the greatest decrease in the tarsal. Osteoclasts in arthritic rats were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) relative to normal in calcaneus (sevenfold), tarsal (194-fold), and tibia (threefold). The most useful quantitative indices were bone area and total osteoclasts, both defined as a percentage of total area measured. Semiquantitative scores for bone erosion and osteoclasts paralleled the quantitative indices. These data show that the navicular tarsal is the most sensitive site at which to assess arthritis in rats with this variant of adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Keywords

Adjuvant-induced arthritis cell count osteoclast rats

Bone growth, maintenance, and repair during normal remodeling and skeletal disease are mediated by the reciprocal activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts, which originate from mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow, produce bone matrix and express receptors for most bone-regulating molecules—regardless of whether the predominant action is to drive bone formation or bone resorption.¹³ Osteoclasts are derived from phagocytic precursors of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and degrade bone matrix. Normal remodeling is tightly controlled by way of cell-to-cell communication between osteoclasts and osteoblasts, with osteoblasts both supporting and regulating osteoclast activity.⁷ However, in pathologic states “activated” cells (e.g., infiltrating leukocytes and synovial fibroblasts) contribute other molecules that shift the equilibrium between osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities.^8,10,14 These molecules act by way of a common pathway to enhance osteoclast differentiation, activity, and survival (reviewed in Bolon et al.²), thus contributing significantly to bone loss in such human conditions as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Animal models of many skeletal diseases also are characterized by increased numbers of osteoclasts. Therefore, assessment of osteoclast populations in animal bones is an important step in understanding the pathogenesis of skeletal diseases and in developing new bone-sparing therapies. For some purposes, an exact count of osteoclasts is made using labor- and time-intensive histomorphometric methods.^4,9,11 In other instances, intralesional osteoclasts may be assessed using simple, rapid, semiquantitative scoring systems.^1,3 The objective of this retrospective study was to define the optimal site for rapid quantification of intralesional osteoclasts in the hind paws of arthritic rats. For this purpose, we used rats in which adjuvant-induced arthritis (AdA) was initiated with an inoculation of mycobacteria. This model yields a severe immune-mediated, jointeroding disease that resembles rheumatoid arthritis.

Materials and Methods

Experimental design

This study was performed with archival tissues from two control groups from an AdA study with rats. We selected this model because animals develop extensive inflammation and localized bone erosions in conjunction with profound osteoclast production within 2 weeks of adjuvant inoculation. Rats from one cohort were normal (no arthritis), whereas rats from the second had arthritis but were not treated. The extent and severity of lesions were assessed independently in the same sections using both semiquantitative and quantitative methods.

Arthritis model

Young adult, male Lewis rats (Charles River, Wilmington, MA) weighing 180–200 g had been acclimated for 1 week and then randomly assigned to either the normal control or the untreated arthritic control group (n = 6 per group). Animals had been given tap water and fed pelleted rodent chow (#8640; Harlan Teklad, Madison, WI) ad libitum. AdA had been induced on study day 0, as described,⁵ by a single intradermal injection at the tail base of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra (0.5 mg; Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI) suspended in 0.05 ml paraffin oil (Crescent Chemical Co., Hauppauge, NY). The clinical onset of arthritis had occurred on study day 9 as indicated by hind paw swelling and ambulatory difficulties. Animals had been maintained for 7 days and then necropsied on study day 16.

Tissue acquisition and processing

At necropsy, all animals had been anesthetized with carbon dioxide, and hind paws had been removed and fixed for 2 days by immersion in zinc formalin (Z-fix; Anatech Ltd., Battle Creek, MI). Paws subsequently were decalcified in eight serial changes of a 1 : 1 mixture of 8 N formic acid and 1 N sodium formate, divided longitudinally along the median axis, and processed into paraffin.

A 4-µm-thick section was stained to demonstrate osteoclasts using an indirect immunoperoxidase method and a proprietary rabbit anti-human monoclonal antibody (Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) directed against the osteoclast marker cathepsin K, which is an osteoclast protease that bears primary responsibility for resorption of bone. The procedure was performed at room temperature on an automated tissue stainer (Model Mark 5; DPC, Flanders, NJ). When needed, each section was washed in phosphate-buffered saline (1 ml). Deparaffinized sections were pretreated for 15 minutes with trypsin (0.1%, in 1% calcium chloride; Sigma, St. Louis, MO) and then covered for 10 minutes with CAS Block (Zymed Laboratories, San Francisco, CA). Sections were incubated with the primary antibody (1 µg/ml) for 60 minutes and with the biotinylated goat anti-rabbit polyclonal secondary antibody (Vector, Burlingame, CA; used at 1 : 200) for 25 minutes. Next, peroxidase-blocking solution (DAKO Corporation, Carpenteria, CA) was applied for 25 minutes, after which the indirect immunoperoxidase bridge was developed for 25 minutes using a commercial kit incorporating avidin–biotin complex and peroxidase (ABC Elite kit; Vector). Reaction sites were observed using diaminobenzidine (DAB+ Substrate/Chromagen System; DAKO) for 3 minutes and counterstained for 1 minute each with hematoxylin and eosin (HE).

Histopathologic and histomorphometric assessments

Paw sections first were evaluated using tiered, semiquantitative scoring criteria (Table 1) to grade bone erosions and intralesional osteoclasts (visible as cathepsin K–labeled [brown], multinucleated cells) in bones throughout the tibiotarsal and intertarsal joints (Fig. 1). Subsequently, joint integrity was evaluated in a quantitative fashion by measuring bone area (an index of erosion), osteoclasts, and osteoblasts (Table 2) at three specific sites: distal tibia (Fig. 2), navicular tarsal (Fig. 3), and calcaneus (Fig. 4). These three bones were selected because they are affected most severely in rats with AdA when joint structure is examined 7 days after the onset of clinical disease. Quantitative assessments were made using the 20× objective of a Nikon Eclipse E400 microscope and commercial bone histomorphometry software (Osteomeasure, version 4.0; Osteometrics, Decatur, GA). In the tibia (Fig. 2) and calcaneus (Fig. 4), the analysis was performed in two 0.36-mm² (0.6 × 0.6 mm) fields oriented parallel to but not encompassing the growth plate cartilage. In the navicular tarsal (Fig. 3), the analysis was conducted by imaging a 1.08-mm² (0.6 × 1.8 mm) rectangle (comprised of three 0.36-mm² fields) that included 80–90% of the total tarsal marrow area. Osteoclasts (i.e., cathepsin K–positive cells) were enumerated in two ways, those in contact with bone and those in marrow. Total osteoclast numbers were calculated as the sum of the bone and marrow subpopulations.

Table 1.

Histopathologic criteria for arthritis lesion scores.∗

Erosion score
0	Normal
1	Minimal loss of cortical or trabecular bone at a few sites
2	Mild loss of cortical or trabecular bone at modest numbers of sites (generally tarsals)
3	Moderate loss of bone at many sites (usually the trabeculae of the tarsals but sometimes the cortex of the distal tibia)
4	Marked loss of bone at many sites (usually as extensive destruction of trabeculae in the tarsals but some-times with partial loss of cortical bone in the distal tibia)
5	Marked loss of bone at many sites (with fragmenting of tarsal trabeculae and full thickness penetration of cortical bone in the distal tibia)
Osteoclast score
0	Normal (essentially no osteoclasts)
1	Few osteoclasts (lining less than 5% of most affected bone surfaces)
2	Some osteoclasts (lining 5–25% of most affected bone surfaces)
3	Many osteoclasts (lining 25–50% of most affected bone surfaces)
4	Myriad osteoclasts (lining more than 50% of most affected bone surfaces)

∗ Criteria published previously in Bolon et al.¹

Table 2.

Definitions for quantitative counts of joint integrity.

Parameter Assessed	Abbreviation

Bone structure
Bone area as a percentage of total area measured	BAr%TAr
Osteoclasts
Number of osteoclasts attached to bone per square mm of bone area	NOc on bone/BAr
Number of osteoclasts attached to bone per square mm of total area measured	NOc on bone/TAr
Number of osteoclasts in bone marrow per square mm of bone area	Marrow NOc/BAr
Number of osteoclasts in bone marrow per square mm of total area measured	Marrow NOc/TAr
Total number of osteoclasts per square mm of bone area	Total NOc/BAr
Total number of osteoclasts per square mm of total area measured	Total NOc/TAr
Osteoclast surface as a percentage of bone surface	OcS%BS
Osteoblasts
Osteoblast surface as a percentage of bone surface	ObS%BS

Fig. 1.

Tibiotarsal region of the hind paw (midaxial orientation); normal adult rat. Schematic diagram showing major anatomic features, including the three bones in which the quantitative parameters were measured: calcaneus (C), navicular tarsal (N), and tibia (T). The semiquantitative scores for erosions and osteoclasts represent composite values obtained for these three bones and another tarsal, the talus (Ta). Bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 2.

Distal tibia; control rat. The normal distal tibia features a prominent growth plate (G) and epiphysis (E), cortical bone (B) with smooth periosteal and endosteal bone surfaces, a few osteoclasts associated with the primary spongiosa (PS), and fat-filled marrow cavity (M). The synovium (S) of the tibiotarsal joint (J) is thin. Black squares (side = 0.6 mm) define fields in which quantitative parameters were measured. Ta = [proximal] talus. Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 3.

Navicular tarsal; control rat. In normal animals, this bone is characterized by cortical bone (B) with smooth periosteal and endosteal bone surfaces, intact joint cartilages (C) resting on subchondral bone plates (P), essentially no osteoclasts, and fat-filled marrow cavity. Black squares (side = 0.6 mm) delineate fields in which quantitative parameters were measured. Ta = [distal] talus. Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 4.

Calcaneus; control rat. Normally, the calcaneus is distinguished by a distinct growth plate (G) and attached gastrocnemius tendon (T), cortical bone (B) with smooth periosteal and endosteal bone surfaces, scattered osteoclasts associated with the primary spongiosa (PS), and fat-filled marrow cavity (M). Black squares (side = 0.6 mm) define fields in which quantitative parameters were measured. Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Statistical analyses

The histopathologic lesion scores (ordinal variables) were analyzed using the chi-square test, whereas the histomorphometric data (continuous variables) were assessed using analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's t -test. Both operations were performed using commercially available software (JMP, version 4.0; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). A P value of 0.05 was used to define significant differences between groups.

Results

Semiquantitative lesion scores

As expected, the arthritic animals had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) erosion and osteoclast scores (group mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.4 for both scores) than did normal rats (0 ± 0 for both). Both lesion scores for each section were acquired in 10–15 seconds. Osteoclasts were most numerous in the navicular tarsal bone (Fig. 5). These cells were activated as indicated by their morphologic features (large, multinucleated cells with many cell processes) and close apposition to eroded (scalloped) bone surfaces (Fig. 6). Although modest bone loss and occasional osteoclasts were observed in the tibial metaphysis (Fig. 7) and calcaneus (Fig. 8), the main characteristic of arthritis at these two sites was an influx of leukocytes into the marrow and surrounding soft tissues.

Fig. 5.

Navicular tarsal bone; arthritic rat. Compared with its normal anatomy (Fig. 3), this severe lesion in the navicular tarsal bone features marked leukocyte infiltration (in both adjacent soft tissues and bone marrow) with extensive erosion of both cortical and trabecular bones. Myriad osteoclasts are strewn within the marrow, particularly near eroding (scalloped) trabeculae. Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 6.

Navicular tarsal bone; arthritic rat. This marrow field is subjacent to the proximal cartilage. Numerous activated osteoclasts (large, multinucleated cells with brown cytoplasm) line eroding (scalloped) endosteal surfaces and are spread throughout the marrow. Necrotic inflammatory cells efface most of the marrow. Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstain. Bar = 50 µm.

Fig. 7.

Distal tibia; arthritic rat. Compared with its normal architecture (Fig. 2), this bone is only modestly affected. Marked arthritis is evident as indicated by a frond of pannus (P) extending into the tibiotarsal joint, marked thickening of the synovium (S), and a diffuse influx of leukocytes into the marrow and periarticular soft tissues (T). Early erosion in the primary spongiosa is revealed by the decreased thickness and connectivity of the bone trabeculae near the growth plate (arrowheads). Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 8.

Calcaneus; arthritic rat. Compared with its normal structure (Fig. 4), this bone is relatively unaffected. The only prominent feature of arthritis is diffuse leukocyte infiltration into the adjacent soft tissues and, to a minor extent, marrow. Minimal erosion of bone is demonstrated by thinning of the trabeculae adjacent to the growth plate (arrowheads). Anti–human cathepsin K immunohistochemical method to detect osteoclasts, with HE counterstains. Bar = 0.5 mm.

Quantitative data: bone area and cell counts

The quantitative analysis agreed well with data acquired from this qualitative assessment (Table 3). Osteoclasts were greatly increased in arthritic rats at all three sites, although significant increases in osteoclasts (P ≤ 0.05) were found only at two sites (in calcaneus and navicular tarsal but not in tibia). Differences were significant for all seven osteoclast parameters in the navicular tarsal, whereas only one significant difference was apparent in the calcaneus (osteoclast surface as a percentage of bone surface [OcS%BS]). Osteoclast counts in the tibia did not differ significantly from those of normal rats, likely because the variation in osteoclast numbers was quite high relative to the calcaneus and navicular tarsal bones. Joint integrity (bone area as a percentage of total area measured [BAr%TAr] and the bone surface covered by osteoblasts [ObS%BS]) was significantly compromised (P ≤ 0.05) in calcaneus, navicular tarsal, and tibia (Table 3). In contrast, normal rats had essentially no osteoclasts, especially in the navicular tarsal. Acquisition of these quantitative measures required 5 (for normal rats) to 20 minutes (for severely arthritic animals) per 0.36-mm² box, or up to 40 minutes for the calcaneus,60 minutes for the tarsal, and 40 minutes for the tibia (i.e., 140 minutes, or almost 2.5 hours).

Table 3.

Quantitative measurements of joint integrity.∗

		Calcaneus		Navicular Tarsal		Tibia
		Normal	Arthritic	Normal	Arthritic	Normal	Arthritic

BAr%TAr	Mean	62	36∗∗	67	29∗∗	57	35∗∗
	SD	2	21	11	18	11	19
NOc on bone/BAr	Mean	31	327	2	317∗∗	43	849
	SD	12	350	4	179	17	1,897
NOc on bone/TAr	Mean	19	57	1	78∗∗	25	27
	SD	8	47	3	43	11	9
Marrow NOc/BAr	Mean	2	1,152	0	1,213∗∗	0	16,879
	SD	3	2,472	0	1,569	1	41,338
Marrow NOc/TAr	Mean	1	76	0	160∗∗	0	46
	SD	2	113	0	140	1	109
Total NOc/BAr	Mean	32	1,478	2	1,530∗∗	44	17,728
	SD	12	2,770	4	1,631	17	43,235
Total NOc/TAr	Mean	20	133	1	238∗∗	25	73
	SD	8	131	3	112	11	102
OcS%BS	Mean	3	15∗∗	0	25∗∗	5	15
	SD	1	13	0	8	2	20
ObS%BS	Mean	5	0.18∗∗	8	0∗∗	7	0∗∗
	SD	5	0.45	8	0	5	0

∗ Values are for 6 rats per group. Asterisks (∗∗) denote a significant difference in arthritic rats relative to those of normal animals, P ≤ 0.05, by analysis of variance and Dunnett's t-test. The two most useful indices of disease are given in bold.

Correlation between semiquantitative scores and quantitative data

The correlation between semiquantitative findings and the quantitative indices of joint destruction in rats with AdA was dependent on the site at which the quantitative measurements were taken. The best agreement occurred in the tarsal, where good correlations existed between erosion score and bone area (BAr%TAr, r ² = 0.70) and between osteoclast score and total osteoclasts within the area (Total NOc/TAr, r ² = 0.79). The correlations were less remarkable at the other two sites (r ² ≤ 0.53), especially when comparing the osteoclast measures.

Discussion

The results of this retrospective study indicate that a rapid histologic exam using semiquantitative scoring criteria can discriminate the severity of joint destruction in rats with AdA to a degree consistent with that afforded by more time-consuming quantitative assessments. However, in those instances where accurate enumeration is required, our data define preferred parameters to measure as well as the optimal site for rapidly quantifying bone destruction and intralesional osteoclasts. As shown in Table 3, the most relevant quantifiable parameters for measuring the progression of arthritis were bone area as a percentage of the total area measured (BAr%TAr, an index of bone integrity [erosions]) and the total number of osteoclasts per millimeter of total area measured (Total NOc/TAr, an assessment of osteoclasts associated with bone removal). The BAr%TAr was significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) by 39–55% at all three sites, with the greatest decrease occurring in the navicular tarsal bone. The Total NOc/TAr was increased substantially at all three sites. Relative to normal animals, the increase in Total NOc/TAr for arthritic rats was modest in the calcaneus (a sevenfold rise, not significant) and tibia (threefold higher, not significant) but was quite pronounced in the navicular tarsal (194-fold more, P ≤ 0.05). The increase in osteoclast numbers in the navicular tarsal, although not significantly different from osteoclast counts in the other two bones due to the high variation between rats, exceeded that in the calcaneus and tibia by 79% and 326%, respectively. In this model of AdA, extensive erosion with numerous osteoclasts is a consistent occurrence in the navicular tarsal (Fig. 5), whereas prominent bone destruction and osteoclast production were not usual features of lesions in the tibia (Fig. 7) and the calcaneus (Fig. 8). Thus, the navicular tarsal will be the preferred site for both semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses of skeletal damage in this model of immune-mediated disease. Relative to the present model, however, other arthritis models are distinguished by different lesion patterns and divergent severities of disease. Thus, a similar assessment will be required in these settings to ascertain the preferred site for rapid quantification of bone damage.

The anti–cathepsin K method is the primary means of detecting osteoclasts in our laboratory because of its sensitivity and specificity when applied to sections of rat bone. Although the antibody we use is proprietary, similar results might be obtained using commercial antibodies. Several firms manufacture anti–human cathepsin K antibodies.¹² Although their use would have to be verified empirically in sections of rat bone, we anticipate that one or more of these molecules would function in a manner equivalent to our proprietary anti-human antibody. Should such attempts prove futile, several other means of osteoclast detection exist in the public domain. For example, the enzyme histochemical procedure to demonstrate tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) is a standard technique for identifying osteoclasts in many species. Indeed, our laboratory routinely used a commercial TRAP kit (No. 387-A; Sigma Diagnostics, St. Louis, MO) to detect osteoclasts in rodent bone before switching to the anti–cathepsin K immunohistochemical method, a change driven by the tedious nature of the TRAP protocol and the similar results obtained using the two techniques (D. Duryea, unpublished). Antibodies against two other osteoclast markers—calcitonin receptor and vitronectin receptor^6,15—are available from several vendors;¹² again, the capacity of these anti-human reagents to function in animal bones has yet to be reported. Molecular probes suitable for in situ hybridization could be designed for osteoclast markers in the event that commercial anti-human antibodies do not work in animal sections. For example, we have labeled osteoclasts in rat tissues with reagents directed against the known gene sequences of mouse calcitonin receptor (GenBank [Gb]: U18542, nucleotides [nts] 1,478–1,807), mouse cathepsin K (Gb: x94444, nts 450–933), and rat vitronectin receptor α_Vβ₃ integrin (Gb: S58528, nts 359–716). The mouse Gb entries were deemed suitable for probing rat specimens because mouse and rat genes exhibit ∼ 95% homology over the specified sequences (S. Scully, personal communication). Finally, osteoclast profiles can be enhanced in HE sections by altering the eosin composition to include two additional dyes (final working solution: eosin Y, 238 ml; phloxine B, 6 ml; orange G, 6 ml). An eosin formulation that includes phloxine B and orange G imparts a vibrant rose pink hue to osteoclast cytoplasm that exceeds the contrast afforded by eosin alone.

In conclusion, the navicular tarsal bone is the most sensitive site for assessing bone destruction and intra-lesional osteoclasts in the hind paws of male Lewis rats with mycobacteria-induced adjuvant arthritis. The two most useful gauges of joint integrity were bone area as a percentage of total area measured (an erosion index) and total number of osteoclasts per millimeter of total area measured (which measures all intralesional osteoclasts). If arthritis quantification was limited to this site and these two indices, lesion severity in each arthritic paw could be enumerated in 20–30 minutes, which represents an 80% reduction in quantification time relative to the full counting method.

Footnotes

Acknowledgements

We thank Diane Duryea, Efrain Pacheco, Sheila Scully, and Gwyneth Van for technical assistance.

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