1
|
Chen W, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Wu J, McVicar A, Chen Y, Zhu S, Zhu G, Lu Y, Zhang J, McConnell M, Li YP. Cbfβ regulates Wnt/β-catenin, Hippo/Yap, and Tgfβ signaling pathways in articular cartilage homeostasis and protects from ACLT surgery-induced osteoarthritis. eLife 2024; 13:e95640. [PMID: 38805545 PMCID: PMC11132684 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
As the most common degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) contributes significantly to pain and disability during aging. Several genes of interest involved in articular cartilage damage in OA have been identified. However, the direct causes of OA are poorly understood. Evaluating the public human RNA-seq dataset showed that CBFB (subunit of a heterodimeric Cbfβ/Runx1, Runx2, or Runx3 complex) expression is decreased in the cartilage of patients with OA. Here, we found that the chondrocyte-specific deletion of Cbfb in tamoxifen-induced Cbfbf/f;Col2a1-CreERT mice caused a spontaneous OA phenotype, worn articular cartilage, increased inflammation, and osteophytes. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that Cbfβ deficiency in articular cartilage resulted in reduced cartilage regeneration, increased canonical Wnt signaling and inflammatory response, and decreased Hippo/Yap signaling and Tgfβ signaling. Immunostaining and western blot validated these RNA-seq analysis results. ACLT surgery-induced OA decreased Cbfβ and Yap expression and increased active β-catenin expression in articular cartilage, while local AAV-mediated Cbfb overexpression promoted Yap expression and diminished active β-catenin expression in OA lesions. Remarkably, AAV-mediated Cbfb overexpression in knee joints of mice with OA showed the significant protective effect of Cbfβ on articular cartilage in the ACLT OA mouse model. Overall, this study, using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, uncovered that low expression of Cbfβ may be the cause of OA. Moreover, Local admission of Cbfb may rescue and protect OA through decreasing Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and increasing Hippo/Yap signaling and Tgfβ/Smad2/3 signaling in OA articular cartilage, indicating that local Cbfb overexpression could be an effective strategy for treatment of OA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Yun Lu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Jinjin Wu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Abigail McVicar
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Yilin Chen
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Siyu Zhu
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Guochun Zhu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - You Lu
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Jiayang Zhang
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Matthew McConnell
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
| | - Yi-Ping Li
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane UniversityNew OrleansUnited States
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen W, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Wu J, McVicar A, Chen Y, Zhu S, Zhu G, Lu Y, Zhang J, McConnell M, Li YP. Cbfβ regulates Wnt/β-catenin, Hippo/Yap, and TGFβ signaling pathways in articular cartilage homeostasis and protects from ACLT surgery-induced osteoarthritis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.575763. [PMID: 38293189 PMCID: PMC10827176 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.575763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
As the most common degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) contributes significantly to pain and disability during aging. Several genes of interest involved in articular cartilage damage in OA have been identified. However, the direct causes of OA are poorly understood. Evaluating the public human RNA-seq dataset showed that Cbfβ, (subunit of a heterodimeric Cbfβ/Runx1,Runx2, or Runx3 complex) expression is decreased in the cartilage of patients with OA. Here, we found that the chondrocyte-specific deletion of Cbfβ in tamoxifen-induced Cbfβf/fCol2α1-CreERT mice caused a spontaneous OA phenotype, worn articular cartilage, increased inflammation, and osteophytes. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that Cbfβ deficiency in articular cartilage resulted in reduced cartilage regeneration, increased canonical Wnt signaling and inflammatory response, and decreased Hippo/YAP signaling and TGF-β signaling. Immunostaining and western blot validated these RNA-seq analysis results. ACLT surgery-induced OA decreased Cbfβ and Yap expression and increased active β-catenin expression in articular cartilage, while local AAV-mediated Cbfβ overexpression promoted Yap expression and diminished active β-catenin expression in OA lesions. Remarkably, AAV-mediated Cbfβ overexpression in knee joints of mice with OA showed the significant protective effect of Cbfβ on articular cartilage in the ACLT OA mouse model. Overall, this study, using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, uncovered that low expression of Cbfβ may be the cause of OA. Moreover, Local admission of Cbfβ may rescue and protect OA through decreasing Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and increasing Hippo/Yap signaling and TGFβ/Smad2/3 signaling in OA articular cartilage, indicating that local Cbfβ overexpression could be an effective strategy for treatment of OA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yun Lu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jinjin Wu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Abigail McVicar
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yilin Chen
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Siyu Zhu
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Guochun Zhu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - You Lu
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jiayang Zhang
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Matthew McConnell
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yi-Ping Li
- Division in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Knights AJ, Farrell EC, Ellis OM, Lammlin L, Junginger LM, Rzeczycki PM, Bergman RF, Pervez R, Cruz M, Knight E, Farmer D, Samani AA, Wu CL, Hankenson KD, Maerz T. Synovial fibroblasts assume distinct functional identities and secrete R-spondin 2 in osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2023; 82:272-282. [PMID: 36175067 PMCID: PMC9972892 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2022-222773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Synovium is acutely affected following joint trauma and contributes to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) progression. Little is known about discrete cell types and molecular mechanisms in PTOA synovium. We aimed to describe synovial cell populations and their dynamics in PTOA, with a focus on fibroblasts. We also sought to define mechanisms of synovial Wnt/β-catenin signalling, given its emerging importance in arthritis. METHODS We subjected mice to non-invasive anterior cruciate ligament rupture as a model of human joint injury. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing to assess synovial cell populations, subjected Wnt-GFP reporter mice to joint injury to study Wnt-active cells, and performed intra-articular injections of the Wnt agonist R-spondin 2 (Rspo2) to assess whether gain of function induced pathologies characteristic of PTOA. Lastly, we used cultured fibroblasts, macrophages and chondrocytes to study how Rspo2 orchestrates crosstalk between joint cell types. RESULTS We uncovered seven distinct functional subsets of synovial fibroblasts in healthy and injured synovium, and defined their temporal dynamics in early and established PTOA. Wnt/β-catenin signalling was overactive in PTOA synovium, and Rspo2 was strongly induced after injury and secreted exclusively by Prg4hi lining fibroblasts. Trajectory analyses predicted that Prg4hi lining fibroblasts arise from a pool of Dpp4+ mesenchymal progenitors in synovium, with SOX5 identified as a potential regulator of this emergence. We also showed that Rspo2 orchestrated pathological crosstalk between synovial fibroblasts, macrophages and chondrocytes. CONCLUSIONS Synovial fibroblasts assume distinct functional identities during PTOA in mice, and Prg4hi lining fibroblasts secrete Rspo2 that may drive pathological joint crosstalk after injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Knights
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Easton C. Farrell
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Olivia M. Ellis
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lindsey Lammlin
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lucas M. Junginger
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Phillip M. Rzeczycki
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rachel F. Bergman
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rida Pervez
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Monique Cruz
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eleanor Knight
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dennis Farmer
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alexa A. Samani
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Chia-Lung Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Kurt D. Hankenson
- Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tristan Maerz
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|