scholarly journals Chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 Overexpression Causes Chondrodysplasia During Development, but is Not Sufficient to Induce OA-like Articular Cartilage Degeneration in Adult Mice Without Injury

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Catheline ◽  
Donna Hoak ◽  
Martin Chang ◽  
John P. Ketz ◽  
Matthew J. Hilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Chondrocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Tunel Staining ◽  
Endochondral Bone Formation ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Osteoarthritic Cartilage ◽  
Joint Injury ◽  
Chondrocyte Maturation ◽  
Adult Mice

ABSTRACTRUNX2 is a transcription factor critical for chondrocyte maturation and normal endochondral bone formation. It promotes the expression of factors catabolic to the cartilage extracellular matrix and is shown to be upregulated in human osteoarthritic cartilage and in murine articular cartilage following joint injury. To date, in vivo studies of RUNX2 overexpression in cartilage have been limited to forced expression in osteochondroprogenitor cells preventing investigation into the effects of chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 overexpression during development or in postnatal articular cartilage. Here, we used the Rosa26Runx2 allele in combination with the inducible Col2a1CreERT2 transgene or the inducible AcanCreERT2 knock-in allele to achieve chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 overexpression (OE) during embryonic development or in the postnatal articular cartilage of adult mice, respectively. RUNX2 OE was induced at E13.5 for all developmental studies and resulted in a phenotype resembling chondrodysplasia at E18.5. Histology and in situ hybridization analyses suggest an early onset of chondrocyte hypertrophy and accelerated terminal maturation in the limbs of the RUNX2 OE embryos compared to control embryos. Additionally, RUNX2 OE resulted in enhanced TUNEL staining indicative of increased chondrocyte apoptosis throughout all regions of the growth plate. For all postnatal studies, RUNX2 OE was induced at 2 months of age. Surprisingly, no histopathological signs of OA or cartilage catabolism were observed even six months following induction of RUNX2 OE in postnatal animals. Using the meniscal/ligamentous injury (MLI), a surgical model of knee joint destabilization and meniscal injury, however, we found that chondrocyte-specific RUNX2 OE accelerates the progression of OA pathogenesis following joint trauma. Histomorphometry and OARSI scoring confirmed decreased cartilage area two months following injury in the RUNX2 OE joints compared to control joints. Further, the numbers of MMP13-positive and TUNEL-positive chondrocytes were significantly greater in the articular cartilage of the RUNX2 OE joints compared to control joints one month following injury. Collectively, our data support that RUNX2 OE in growth plate chondrocytes is sufficient to promote their hypertrophy and terminal maturation during development. While RUNX2 overexpression alone is surprisingly insufficient to induce catabolic changes to the postnatal articular cartilage, it can accelerate the progression of post-traumatic OA. These results suggest that although increased RUNX2 expression may predetermine the rate of OA onset and/or progression following traumatic joint injury, alone this change is not sufficient to initiate the OA degenerative process.

HiPER1, a phosphatase of the endoplasmic reticulum with a role in chondrocyte maturation

1998 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-813
Author(s):  
P.R. Romano ◽  
J. Wang ◽  
R.J. O'Keefe ◽  
J.E. Puzas ◽  
R.N. Rosier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Articular Chondrocytes ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Chondrocyte Maturation ◽  
Er Retention ◽  
Alternatively Spliced ◽  
Dual Label

We have previously identified and partially cloned Band 17, a gene expressed in growth plate chondrocytes transiting from proliferation to hypertrophy. We now rename this gene HiPER1, Histidine Phosphatase of the Endoplasmic Reticulum-1, based on the results reported here. HiPER1 encodes two proteins of 318 (HiPER1(318)) and 449 (HiPER1(449)) amino acids, which are 20–21% identical to a group of yeast acid phosphatases that are in the histidine phosphatase family. HiPER1(449) is significantly more abundant than HiPER1(318), correlating with the abundance of the alternatively spliced messages encoding HiPER449 and HiPER318. Anti-HiPER1 antibodies detect two proteins of 53 and 55 kDa in growth plate chondrocytes that are absent in articular chondrocytes. We confirm that the 53 and 55 kDa proteins are HiPER1(449) by heterologous expression of the HiPER1(449) coding sequence in chick embryo fibroblasts. The 53 and 55 kDa proteins are glycosylated forms of HiPER1(449), as N-glycosidase F digestion reduces these proteins to 48 kDa, the predicted size of HiPER1(449) without the N-terminal signal sequence. Immunocytochemistry demonstrates that HiPER1(449) is found in chondrocytes maturing from proliferation to hypertrophy, but is not detectable in resting zone, deep hypertrophic zone or articular chondrocytes, a distribution that is consistent with the message distribution. HiPER1(449) was predicted to localize to the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum by an N-terminal signal sequence and by the C-terminal sequence Ala-Asp-Glu-Leu, which closely matches the consensus signal for ER retention, Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu. We confirm this prediction by demonstrating colocalization of HiPER1(449) with the ER protein HSP47 using dual-label immunofluorescence. PTHrP, a peptide that prevents hypertrophy in chondrocytes, suppressed HiPER1 and HiPER1(449) expression in vitro, an observation that further supports a role for HiPER1 in chondrocyte maturation. The yeast phosphatase homology, localization to the endoplasmic reticulum and pattern of expression suggest that HiPER1 represents a previously unrecognized intracellular pathway, involved in differentiation of chondrocytes.

scholarly journals Mice Lacking the Matrilin Family of Extracellular Matrix Proteins Develop Mild Skeletal Abnormalities and Are Susceptible to Age-Associated Osteoarthritis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Li ◽  
Lutz Fleischhauer ◽  
Claudia Nicolae ◽  
Carina Prein ◽  
Zsuzsanna Farkas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Lumbar Vertebra ◽  
Adaptor Proteins ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Endochondral Bone Formation ◽  
Appendicular Skeleton ◽  
Skeletal Phenotype

Matrilins (MATN1, MATN2, MATN3 and MATN4) are adaptor proteins of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), which bridge the collagen II and proteoglycan networks. In humans, dominant-negative mutations in MATN3 lead to various forms of mild chondrodysplasias. However, single or double matrilin knockout mice generated previously in our laboratory do not show an overt skeletal phenotype, suggesting compensation among the matrilin family members. The aim of our study was to establish a mouse line, which lacks all four matrilins and analyze the consequence of matrilin deficiency on endochondral bone formation and cartilage function. Matn1-4−/− mice were viable and fertile, and showed a lumbosacral transition phenotype characterized by the sacralization of the sixth lumbar vertebra. The development of the appendicular skeleton, the structure of the growth plate, chondrocyte differentiation, proliferation, and survival were normal in mutant mice. Biochemical analysis of knee cartilage demonstrated moderate alterations in the extractability of the binding partners of matrilins in Matn1-4−/− mice. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed comparable compressive stiffness but higher collagen fiber diameters in the growth plate cartilage of quadruple mutant compared to wild-type mice. Importantly, Matn1-4−/− mice developed more severe spontaneous osteoarthritis at the age of 18 months, which was accompanied by changes in the biomechanical properties of the articular cartilage. Interestingly, Matn4−/− mice also developed age-associated osteoarthritis suggesting a crucial role of MATN4 in maintaining the stability of the articular cartilage. Collectively, our data provide evidence that matrilins are important to protect articular cartilage from deterioration and are involved in the specification of the vertebral column.

scholarly journals Role of the Progressive Ankylosis Gene (ank) in Cartilage Mineralization

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 312-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wang ◽  
Jinping Xu ◽  
Bin Du ◽  
Thorsten Kirsch
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Critical Event ◽  
Endochondral Bone Formation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Inorganic Pyrophosphate ◽  
Extracellular Milieu ◽  
Expression And Activity

ABSTRACT Mineralization of growth plate cartilage is a critical event during endochondral bone formation, which allows replacement of cartilage by bone. Ankylosis protein (Ank), which transports intracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to the extracellular milieu, is expressed by hypertrophic and, especially highly, by terminally differentiated mineralizing growth plate chondrocytes. Blocking Ank transport activity or ank expression in terminally differentiated mineralizing growth plate chondrocytes led to increases of intra- and extracellular PPi concentrations, decreases of alkaline phosphatase (APase) expression and activity, and inhibition of mineralization, whereas treatment of these cells with the APase inhibitor levamisole led to an increase of extracellular PPi concentration and inhibition of mineralization. Ank-overexpressing hypertrophic nonmineralizing growth plate chondrocytes showed decreased intra- and extracellular PPi levels; increased mineralization-related gene expression of APase, type I collagen, and osteocalcin; increased APase activity; and mineralization. Treatment of Ank-expressing growth plate chondrocytes with a phosphate transport blocker (phosphonoformic acid [PFA]) inhibited uptake of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and gene expression of the type III Na+/Pi cotransporters Pit-1 and Pit-2. Furthermore, PFA or levamisole treatment of Ank-overexpressing hypertrophic chondrocytes inhibited APase expression and activity and subsequent mineralization. In conclusion, increased Ank activity results in elevated intracellular PPi transport to the extracellular milieu, initial hydrolysis of PPi to Pi, Pi-mediated upregulation of APase gene expression and activity, further hydrolysis and removal of the mineralization inhibitor PPi, and subsequent mineralization.

scholarly journals Nuclear Factor-κB p65 Facilitates Longitudinal Bone Growth by Inducing Growth Plate Chondrocyte Proliferation and Differentiation and by Preventing Apoptosis

2007 ◽  
Vol 282 (46) ◽  
pp. 33698-33706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shufang Wu ◽  
Janna K. Flint ◽  
Geoffrey Rezvani ◽  
Francesco De Luca
Keyword(s):  
Growth Plate ◽  
Bone Growth ◽  
Chondrocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Chondrocyte Proliferation ◽  
Longitudinal Bone Growth ◽  
Metatarsal Bones ◽  
Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Cultured Chondrocytes

NF-κB is a group of transcription factors involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mice deficient in the NF-κB subunits p50 and p52 have retarded growth, suggesting that NF-κB is involved in bone growth. Yet, it is not clear whether the reduced bone growth of these mice depends on the lack of NF-κB activity in growth plate chondrocytes. Using cultured rat metatarsal bones and isolated growth plate chondrocytes, we studied the effects of two NF-κB inhibitors (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or BAY11-7082 (BAY)), p65 short interference RNA (siRNA), and of the overexpression of p65 on chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. To further define the underlying mechanisms, we studied the functional interaction between NF-κB p65 and BMP-2 in chondrocytes. PDTC and BAY suppressed metatarsal linear growth. Such growth inhibition resulted from decreased chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation and from increased chondrocyte apoptosis. In cultured chondrocytes, the inhibition of NF-κB p65 activation (by PDTC and BAY) and expression (by p65 siRNA) led to the same findings observed in cultured metatarsal bones. In contrast, overexpression of p65 in cultured chondrocytes induced chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation and prevented apoptosis. Although PDTC, BAY, and p65 siRNA reduced the expression of BMP-2 in cultured growth plate chondrocytes, the overexpression of p65 increased it. The addition of Noggin, a BMP-2 antagonist, neutralized the stimulatory effects of p65 on chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, as well as its anti-apoptotic effect. In conclusion, our findings indicate that NF-κB p65 expressed in growth plate chondrocytes facilitates growth plate chondrogenesis and longitudinal bone growth by inducing BMP-2 expression and activity.

scholarly journals Apoptosis of Growth Plate Chondrocytes Occurs through a Mitochondrial Pathway

2007 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina C. Teixeira ◽  
Aida P. Padron Costas ◽  
Yelena Nemelivsky
Keyword(s):  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Chondrocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Cytochrome C Release ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Chondrocyte Viability ◽  
Induced Apoptosis ◽  
Free Media

Abstract Objective: To determine the role of mitochondria in chondrocyte apoptosis induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi). Materials and Methods: Chondrocytes isolated from the growth plates of chick embryo tibia were treated with Pi in serum-free media; chondrocyte viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, caspase 3 activity, endonuclease activity, and DNA fragmentation were investigated. Results: Exposure to Pi for 24 hours induced apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes through a pathway that involved loss of mitochondrial function, release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, increases in caspase 3 and endonuclease activities, and fragmentation of DNA. Conclusions: This study suggests that mitochondria are important players in Pi-induced apoptosis.

scholarly journals Estrogen stimulates leptin receptor expression in ATDC5 cells via the estrogen receptor and extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways

2012 ◽  
Vol 213 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shan-Jin Wang ◽  
Xin-Feng Li ◽  
Lei-Sheng Jiang ◽  
Li-Yang Dai
Keyword(s):  
Growth Plate ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Bone Growth ◽  
Leptin Receptor ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Long Bone ◽  
Endochondral Bone Formation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner

Regulation of the physiological processes of endochondral bone formation during long bone growth is controlled by various factors including the hormones estrogen and leptin. The effects of estrogen are mediated not only through the direct activity of estrogen receptors (ERs) but also through cross talk with other signaling systems implicated in chondrogenesis. The receptors of both estrogen and leptin (OBR (LEPR)) are detectable in growth plate chondrocytes of all zones. In this study, the expression of mRNA and protein of OBR in chondrogenic ATDC5 cells and the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) stimulation were assessed using quantitative PCR and western blotting. We have found that the mRNA of Obr was dynamically expressed during the differentiation of ATDC5 cells over 21 days. Application of E2 (10−7 M) at day 14 for 48 h significantly upregulated OBR mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). The upregulation of Obr mRNA by E2 was shown to take place in a concentration-dependent manner, with a concentration of 10−7 M E2 having the greatest effect. Furthermore, we have confirmed that E2 affected the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (MAPK1/MAPK3) in a time-dependent manner where a maximal fourfold change was observed at 10 min following application of E2. Finally, pretreatment of the cells with either U0126 (ERK1/2 inhibitor) or ICI 182 780 (ER antagonist) blocked the upregulation of OBR by E2 and prevented the E2-induced phosphorylation of ERK. These data demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of cross talk between estrogen and OBR in the regulation of bone growth whereby estrogen regulates the expression of Obr in growth plate chondrocytes via ERs and the activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Loss of Autophagy In Tibial Growth Plate Chondrocytes Causes Increased Chondrocyte Apoptosis In Young Rats With Chronic Renal Insufficiency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-jian Wang ◽  
Xiao Lu ◽  
Song-jia Guo ◽  
Wei Tian ◽  
Jian-bo Wu
Keyword(s):  
Renal Insufficiency ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Chronic Renal Insufficiency ◽  
Chondrocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Apoptosis Rate ◽  
Young Rats ◽  
Tibial Growth Plate

Abstract Background: To observed the effect of autophagy in tibial growth plate chondrocytes on apoptosis in chronic renal insufficiency(CRI) rats.Method: Male 4-week-old Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=20/per group): (1) the normal group was intragastrically administered distilled water; and (2) the CRI group was given a 150 mg/(kg·d) adenine suspension. All rats were sacrificed after continuous gavage for 6 weeks. The tibial length and the width of the tibial growth plate were measured using micro-CT. The width of the tibial growth plate was also measured in histological sections at both 4 w and 10 w. The level of the autophagy marker Beclin-1 in chondrocytes was measured by immunofluorescence. The level of glycogenin-1, a marker of intracellular glycogen accumulation, was measured by immunohistochemistry in chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro. The apoptosis rate of chondrocytes was measured by the TUNEL method in vivo and in vitro.Results: The results showed that the length of tibia was shorter and the width of tibia growth plate was narrower in CRF young rats. Autophagy level of chondrocytes in tibial growth plate decreased, and accumulation of glycogen granules in chondrocytes increased significantly. Meanwhile, the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes in tibial growth plate increased.Conclusion: When CRF occurred in young rats, the autophagy level of chondrocytes in tibial growth plate decreased significantly.As a result, there are not enough autophagic vesicles to swallow glycogen granules in chondrocytes and degrade them into glucose for energy supply, which leads to chondrocyte apoptosis.Autophagy of chondrocytes is at least partly involved in energy metabolism of cells.

scholarly journals SOX9 keeps growth plates and articular cartilage healthy by inhibiting chondrocyte dedifferentiation/osteoblastic redifferentiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (8) ◽  
pp. e2019152118
Author(s):  
Abdul Haseeb ◽  
Ranjan Kc ◽  
Marco Angelozzi ◽  
Charles de Charleroy ◽  
Danielle Rux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Articular Cartilage ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Articular Chondrocytes ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Bmp Signaling ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes

Cartilage is essential throughout vertebrate life. It starts developing in embryos when osteochondroprogenitor cells commit to chondrogenesis, activate a pancartilaginous program to form cartilaginous skeletal primordia, and also embrace a growth-plate program to drive skeletal growth or an articular program to build permanent joint cartilage. Various forms of cartilage malformation and degeneration diseases afflict humans, but underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood and treatment options suboptimal. The transcription factor SOX9 is required for embryonic chondrogenesis, but its postnatal roles remain unclear, despite evidence that it is down-regulated in osteoarthritis and heterozygously inactivated in campomelic dysplasia, a severe skeletal dysplasia characterized postnatally by small stature and kyphoscoliosis. Using conditional knockout mice and high-throughput sequencing assays, we show here that SOX9 is required postnatally to prevent growth-plate closure and preosteoarthritic deterioration of articular cartilage. Its deficiency prompts growth-plate chondrocytes at all stages to swiftly reach a terminal/dedifferentiated stage marked by expression of chondrocyte-specific (Mgp) and progenitor-specific (Nt5e and Sox4) genes. Up-regulation of osteogenic genes (Runx2, Sp7, and Postn) and overt osteoblastogenesis quickly ensue. SOX9 deficiency does not perturb the articular program, except in load-bearing regions, where it also provokes chondrocyte-to-osteoblast conversion via a progenitor stage. Pathway analyses support roles for SOX9 in controlling TGFβ and BMP signaling activities during this cell lineage transition. Altogether, these findings deepen our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that specifically ensure lifelong growth-plate and articular cartilage vigor by identifying osteogenic plasticity of growth-plate and articular chondrocytes and a SOX9-countered chondrocyte dedifferentiation/osteoblast redifferentiation process.

scholarly journals Recent Insights into Long Bone Development: Central Role of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Regulating Growth Plate

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 5840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haraguchi ◽  
Kitazawa ◽  
Kohara ◽  
Ikedo ◽  
Imai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Growth Plate ◽  
Bone Development ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Long Bone ◽  
Endochondral Bone Formation ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Growth Plate Chondrocytes ◽  
Wide Range

The longitudinal growth of long bone, regulated by an epiphyseal cartilaginous component known as the “growth plate”, is generated by epiphyseal chondrocytes. The growth plate provides a continuous supply of chondrocytes for endochondral ossification, a sequential bone replacement of cartilaginous tissue, and any failure in this process causes a wide range of skeletal disorders. Therefore, the cellular and molecular characteristics of the growth plate are of interest to many researchers. Hedgehog (Hh), well known as a mitogen and morphogen during development, is one of the best known regulatory signals in the developmental regulation of the growth plate. Numerous animal studies have revealed that signaling through the Hh pathway plays multiple roles in regulating the proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of growth plate chondrocytes throughout the skeletal growth period. Furthermore, over the past few years, a growing body of evidence has emerged demonstrating that a limited number of growth plate chondrocytes transdifferentiate directly into the full osteogenic and multiple mesenchymal lineages during postnatal bone development and reside in the bone marrow until late adulthood. Current studies with the genetic fate mapping approach have shown that the commitment of growth plate chondrocytes into the skeletal lineage occurs under the influence of epiphyseal chondrocyte-derived Hh signals during endochondral bone formation. Here, we discuss the valuable observations on the role of the Hh signaling pathway in the growth plate based on mouse genetic studies, with some emphasis on recent advances.

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