scholarly journals Evaluation of CCL21 role in post-knee injury inflammation and early cartilage degeneration

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0247913
Author(s):  
Mohan Subburaman ◽  
Bouchra Edderkaoui

The expression of some chemokines and chemokine receptors is induced during the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), but their involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease is unclear. The goal of this study was to test whether CCL21 and CXCL13 play a role in PTOA development. For this purpose, we evaluated the expression profiles of the chemokines Ccl21 and Cxcl13, matrix metalloproteinase enzymes Mmp3 and Mmp13, and inflammatory cell markers in response to partial medial meniscectomy and destabilization (MMD). We then assessed the effect of local administration of CCL21 neutralizing antibody on PTOA development and post-knee injury inflammation. The mRNA expression of both Ccl21 and Cxcl13 was induced early post-surgery, but only Ccl21 mRNA levels remained elevated 4 weeks post-surgery in rat MMD-operated knees compared to controls. This suggests that while both CXCL13 and CCL21 are involved in post-surgery inflammation, CCL21 is necessary for development of PTOA. A significant increase in the mRNA levels of Cd4, Cd8 and Cd20 was observed during the first 3 days post-surgery. Significantly, treatment with CCL21 antibody reduced post-surgical inflammation that was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of Mmp3 and Mmp13 and post-MMD cartilage degradation. Our findings are consistent with a role for CCL21 in mediating changes in early inflammation and subsequent cartilage degeneration in response to knee injury. Our results suggest that targeting CCL21 signaling pathways may yield new therapeutic approaches effective in delaying or preventing PTOA development following injury.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 635-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Bin Zhang ◽  
Wei-Xiao Liu ◽  
Ke Lu ◽  
Haobo Pan ◽  
...  

ObjectivesIn this study, we aim to determine the effect of metformin on osteoarthritis (OA) development and progression.MethodsDestabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery was performed in 10-week-old wild type and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 knockout (KO) mice. Metformin (4 mg/day in drinking water) was given, commencing either 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after DMM surgery. Mice were sacrificed 6 and 12 weeks after DMM surgery. OA phenotype was analysed by micro-computerised tomography (μCT), histology and pain-related behaviour tests. AMPKα1 (catalytic alpha subunit of AMPK) expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses. The OA phenotype was also determined by μCT and MRI in non-human primates.ResultsMetformin upregulated phosphorylated and total AMPK expression in articular cartilage tissue. Mild and more severe cartilage degeneration was observed at 6 and 12 weeks after DMM surgery, evidenced by markedly increased Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores, as well as reduced cartilage areas. The administration of metformin, commencing either before or after DMM surgery, caused significant reduction in cartilage degradation. Prominent synovial hyperplasia and osteophyte formation were observed at both 6 and 12 weeks after DMM surgery; these were significantly inhibited by treatment with metformin either before or after DMM surgery. The protective effects of metformin on OA development were not observed in AMPKα1 KO mice, suggesting that the chondroprotective effect of metformin is mediated by AMPK signalling. In addition, we demonstrated that treatment with metformin could also protect from OA progression in a partial medial meniscectomy animal model in non-human primates.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that metformin, administered shortly after joint injury, can limit OA development and progression in injury-induced OA animal models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quitterie C. Larrouture ◽  
Adam P. Cribbs ◽  
Srinivasa R. Rao ◽  
Martin Philpott ◽  
Sarah J. Snelling ◽  
...  

AbstractOsteoclasts are multinucleated, bone-resorbing cells. However, they also digest cartilage during skeletal maintenance, development and in degradative conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary bone sarcoma. This study explores the mechanisms behind the osteoclast–cartilage interaction. Human osteoclasts differentiated on acellular human cartilage expressed osteoclast marker genes (e.g. CTSK, MMP9) and proteins (TRAP, VNR), visibly damaged the cartilage surface and released glycosaminoglycan in a contact-dependent manner. Direct co-culture with chondrocytes during differentiation increased large osteoclast formation (p < 0.0001) except when co-cultured on dentine, when osteoclast formation was inhibited (p = 0.0002). Osteoclasts cultured on dentine inhibited basal cartilage degradation (p = 0.012). RNA-seq identified MMP8 overexpression in osteoclasts differentiated on cartilage versus dentine (8.89-fold, p = 0.0133), while MMP9 was the most highly expressed MMP. Both MMP8 and MMP9 were produced by osteoclasts in osteosarcoma tissue. This study suggests that bone-resident osteoclasts and chondrocytes exert mutually protective effects on their ‘native’ tissue. However, when osteoclasts contact non-native cartilage they cause degradation via MMPs. Understanding the role of osteoclasts in cartilage maintenance and degradation might identify new therapeutic approaches for pathologies characterized by cartilage degeneration.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuradha Mishra ◽  
Mosami Galvankar ◽  
Neha Singh ◽  
Shantashri Vaidya ◽  
Uddhav Chaudhari ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEndometriosis is a chronic incurable disorder of unknown etiology affecting a large proportion of women in reproductive age. In order to understand the pathogenesis and preclinical testing of drugs,animal models that recapitulate the key features of the disorder are highly desirous. Herein, we describe the ontogeny of the ectopic endometrial lesion in a mouse model where uterine tissue was ligated to the intestinal mesentery and the animals were followed up from day 5 to day 60 post-surgery. Out of 60 animals that underwent surgery, 58 developed endometriosis using this strategy. Most lesions were pale, fluid filled while red lesions were seen in ~10% of animals. Histologically, in most animals there was one large cystic gland with well differentiated epithelium, in 13% of animals there was mixed phenotype (well and poorly differentiated). There was extensive stromal compaction and increased number of macrophages in ectopic lesions. During the course of endometriosis, there was an increase in number of PCNA positive epithelial and stromal cells. The epithelial cells at all the time point were cytokeratin positive and the stroma was vimentin positive. However, at day 30 and 60, the stromal cells were also cytokeratin positive. The mRNA levels of estrogen receptorsEsr1andGper1were reduced while those ofEsr2were elevated as compared to normal endometrium, the levels of progesterone receptor (Pgr) were found to be downregulated in ectopic lesions as compared to control. However, these differences were not statistically significant due to high biological variability. Low abundance ofCyp19a1transcripts (aromatase gene) were only detected in the ectopic endometrium. Immunohistochemically, the expression of ERα and ERβ was significantly reduced only in stromal cells; the epithelial cell staining was maintained. GPER1 and PR immunoreactivity was significantly low in both epithelial and stromal cells. The immunostaining of all the steroid receptors was highly heterogeneous in the ectopic tissues with some areas of sections had stained intensely while others had negligible staining. We propose that temporal and spatial difference in the expression of steroid hormone receptors during the course of endometriosis development coupled with micro-heterogeneity may alter the effectiveness of steroid hormone analogues resulting in variable outcomes and often failure of therapy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 56-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Bellenger ◽  
P. Ghosh ◽  
Y. Numata ◽  
C. Little ◽  
D. S. Simpson

SummaryTotal medial meniscectomy and caudal pole hemimeniscectomy were performed on the stifle joints of twelve sheep. The two forms of meniscectomy produced a comparable degree of postoperative lameness that resolved within two weeks of the operations. After six months the sheep were euthanatised and the stifle joints examined. Fibrous tissue that replaced the excised meniscus in the total meniscectomy group did not cover as much of the medial tibial condyle as the residual cranial pole and caudal fibrous tissue observed following hemimeniscectomy. The articular cartilage from different regions within the joints was examined for gross and histological evidence of degeneration. Analyses of the articular cartilage for water content, glycosaminoglycan composition and DNA content were performed. The proteoglycan synthesis and release from explanted articular cartilage samples in tissue culture were also measured. There were significant pathological changes in the medial compartment of all meniscectomised joints. The degree of articular cartilage degeneration that was observed following total meniscectomy and caudal pole meniscectomy was similar. Caudal pole hemimeniscectomy, involving transection of the meniscus, causes the same degree of degeneration of the stifle joint that occurs following total meniscectomy.The effect of total medial meniscectomy versus caudal pole hemimeniscectomy on the stifle joint of sheep was studied experimentally. Six months after the operations gross pathology, histopathology, cartilage biochemical analysis and the rate of proteoglycan synthesis in tissue culture were used to compare the articular cartilage harvested from the meniscectomised joints. Degeneration of the articular cartilage from the medial compartment of the joints was present in both of the groups. Caudal pole hemimeniscectomy induces a comparable degree of articular cartilage degeneration to total medial meniscectomy in the sheep stifle joint.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Jianghua Ming ◽  
Yaming Li ◽  
Bochun Li ◽  
Ming Deng ◽  
...  

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) encapsulated within exosomes can serve as essential regulators of intercellular communication and represent promising biomarkers of several aging-associated disorders. However, the relationship between exosomal miRNAs and osteoarthritis (OA)-related chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts (SFCs) remain to be clarified. Herein, we profiled synovial fluid-derived exosomal miRNAs and explored the effects of exosomal miRNAs derived from SFCs on chondrocyte inflammation, proliferation, and survival, and further assessed their impact on cartilage degeneration in a surgically-induced rat OA model. We identified 19 miRNAs within synovial fluid-derived exosomes that were differentially expressed when comparing OA and control patients. We then employed a microarray-based approach to confirm that exosomal miRNA-126-3p expression was significantly reduced in OA patient-derived synovial fluid exosomes. At a functional level, miRNA-126-3p mimic treatment was sufficient to promote rat chondrocyte migration and proliferation while also suppressing apoptosis and IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression. SFC-miRNA-126-3p-Exos were able to suppress apoptotic cell death and associated inflammation in chondrocytes. Our in vivo results revealed that rat SFC-derived exosomal miRNA-126-3p was sufficient to suppress the formation of osteophytes, prevent cartilage degeneration, and exert anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on articular cartilage. Overall, our findings indicate that SFC exosome‐delivered miRNA-126-3p can constrain chondrocyte inflammation and cartilage degeneration. As such, SFC-miRNA-126-3p-Exos may be of therapeutic value for the treatment of patients suffering from OA.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (4) ◽  
pp. G875-G885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine Strup-Perrot ◽  
Denis Mathé ◽  
Christine Linard ◽  
Dominique Violot ◽  
Fabien Milliat ◽  
...  

Radiation enteritis, a common complication of radiation therapy for abdominal and pelvic cancers, is characterized by severe transmural fibrosis associated with mesenchymal cell activation, tissue disorganization, and deposition of fibrillar collagen. To investigate the mechanisms involved in this pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix, we studied gene expression of matrix components along with that of genes involved in matrix remodeling, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Hybrid selection on high-density cDNA array, real-time RT-PCR, gelatin zymography and imunohistochemistry were used to characterize the mRNA expression profile, activity, and tissue location of extracellular matrix-related genes in radiation enteritis compared with healthy ileum. cDNA array analysis revealed a strong induction of genes coding for collagens I, III, IV, VI, and VIII, SPARC, and tenascin-C, extracellular-matrix degrading enzymes (MMP-1, -2, -3, -14, -18+19), and metalloproteinase inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) in radiation enteritis. This increase was correlated with the degree of infiltration of the mucosa by inflammatory cells, and the presence of differentiated mesenchymal cells in the submucosa and muscularis propria. Despite the fact that expression of collagens, MMPs, and TIMPs simultaneously increase, quantification of net collagen deposition shows an overall accumulation of collagen. Our results indicate that late radiation enteritis tissues are subjected to active process of fibrogenesis as well as fibrolysis, with a balance toward fibrogenesis. This demonstrates that established fibrotic tissue is not scarred fixed tissue but is subjected to a dynamic remodeling process.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingzhang Guo ◽  
Mack H. Wu ◽  
Ferenc Korompai ◽  
Sarah Y. Yuan

The protein kinase C (PKC) pathway has recently been recognized as an important mechanism in the development of diabetic complications including cardiomyopathy and angiopathy. Although an increase in PKC kinase activity has been detected in the cardiovascular system of diabetic patients and animals, it is unclear whether the same pathological condition alters PKC at the transcriptional and translational levels. In this study we assessed quantitatively the mRNA and protein expression profiles of PKC isozymes in the heart and vascular tissues from streptozotocin-induced diabetic pigs. Partial regions of the porcine PKCα, β1, and β2 mRNAs were sequenced, and real-time RT-PCR assays were developed for PKC mRNA quantification. The results showed a significant increase in the mRNA levels of PKCα, β1, and β2 in the heart at 4–8 wk of diabetes. In concomitance, the PKCβ1 and β2 genes, but not the PKCα gene, were upregulated in the diabetic aorta. Correspondingly, there was a significant increase in the protein expression of PKCα and β2 in the heart and PKCβ2 in the aorta with a time course correlated to that of mRNA expression. In summary, PKCβ2 was significantly upregulated in the heart and aorta at both the transcriptional and translational levels during early stages of experimental diabetes, suggesting that PKCβ2 may be a prominent target of diabetic injury in the cardiovascular system.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Seung Kang ◽  
Chae-Kwan Lee ◽  
Ju-Ran Kim ◽  
Seong-Jin Yu ◽  
Sung-Goo Kang ◽  
...  

In the present study, differential gene expression in the uteri of ovariectomised (OVX) and pro-oestrous rats (OVX v. pro-oestrus pair) was investigated using cDNA expression array analysis. Differential uterine gene expression in OVX rats and progesterone (P4)-injected OVX rats (OVX v. OVX + P4 pair) was also examined. The uterine gene expression profiles of these two sets of animals were also compared for the effects of P4 treatment. RNA samples were extracted from uterine tissues and reverse transcribed in the presence of [α32P]-dATP. Membrane sets of rat arrays were hybridised with cDNA probe sets. Northern blot analysis was used to validate the relative gene expression patterns obtained from the cDNA array. Of the 1176 cDNAs examined, 23 genes showed significant (>two-fold) changes in expression in the OVX v. pro-oestrus pair. Twenty of these genes were upregulated during pro-oestrus compared with their expression in the OVX rat uterus. In the OVX v. OVX + P4 pair, 22 genes showed significant (>two-fold) changes in gene expression. Twenty of these genes were upregulated in the OVX + P4 animals. The genes for nuclear factor I–XI, afadin, neuroligin 2, semaphorin Z, calpain 4, cyclase-associated protein homologue, thymosin β-4X and p8 were significantly upregulated in the uteri of the pro-oestrus and OVX + P4 rats of both experimental pairs compared with the OVX rat uteri. These genes appear to be under the control of P4. One of the most interesting findings of the present study is the unexpected and marked expression of the neuroligin 2 gene in the rat uterus. This gene is expressed at high levels in the central nervous system and acts as a nerve cell adhesion factor. According to Northern blot analysis, neuroligin 2 gene expression was higher during the pro-oestrus and metoestrus stages than during the oestrus and dioestrus stages of the oestrous cycle. In addition, neuroligin 2 mRNA levels were increased by both 17β-oestradiol (E2) and P4, although P4 administration upregulated gene expression to a greater extent than injection of E2. These results indicate that neuroligin 2 gene expression in the rat uterus is under the control of both E2 and P4, which are secreted periodically during the oestrous cycle.


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