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Ignatyeva N, Gavrilov N, Timashev PS, Medvedeva EV. Prg4-Expressing Chondroprogenitor Cells in the Superficial Zone of Articular Cartilage. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5605. [PMID: 38891793 PMCID: PMC11171992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115605] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Joint-resident chondrogenic precursor cells have become a significant therapeutic option due to the lack of regenerative capacity in articular cartilage. Progenitor cells are located in the superficial zone of the articular cartilage, producing lubricin/Prg4 to decrease friction of cartilage surfaces during joint movement. Prg4-positive progenitors are crucial in maintaining the joint's structure and functionality. The disappearance of progenitor cells leads to changes in articular hyaline cartilage over time, subchondral bone abnormalities, and the formation of ectopic ossification. Genetic labeling cell technology has been the main tool used to characterize Prg4-expressing progenitor cells of articular cartilage in vivo through drug injection at different time points. This technology allows for the determination of the origin of progenitor cells and the tracking of their progeny during joint development and cartilage damage. We endeavored to highlight the currently known information about the Prg4-producing cell population in the joint to underline the significance of the role of these cells in the development of articular cartilage and its homeostasis. This review focuses on superficial progenitors in the joint, how they contribute to postnatal articular cartilage formation, their capacity for regeneration, and the consequences of Prg4 deficiency in these cells. We have accumulated information about the Prg4+ cell population of articular cartilage obtained through various elegantly designed experiments using transgenic technologies to identify potential opportunities for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezda Ignatyeva
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 8-2 Trubetskaya St., Moscow 119048, Russia; (N.G.); (P.S.T.); (E.V.M.)
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2
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McDonnell E, Orr SE, Barter MJ, Rux D, Brumwell A, Wrobel N, Murphy L, Overmann LM, Sorial AK, Young DA, Soul J, Rice SJ. Epigenetic mechanisms of osteoarthritis risk in human skeletal development. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.05.24306832. [PMID: 38766055 PMCID: PMC11100852 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.05.24306832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome, including the methylation of cytosine bases at CG dinucleotides, is intrinsically linked to transcriptional regulation. The tight regulation of gene expression during skeletal development is essential, with ~1/500 individuals born with skeletal abnormalities. Furthermore, increasing evidence is emerging to link age-associated complex genetic musculoskeletal diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA), to developmental factors including joint shape. Multiple studies have shown a functional role for DNA methylation in the genetic mechanisms of OA risk using articular cartilage samples taken from aged patients. Despite this, our knowledge of temporal changes to the methylome during human cartilage development has been limited. We quantified DNA methylation at ~700,000 individual CpGs across the epigenome of developing human articular cartilage in 72 samples ranging from 7-21 post-conception weeks, a time period that includes cavitation of the developing knee joint. We identified significant changes in 8% of all CpGs, and >9400 developmental differentially methylated regions (dDMRs). The largest hypermethylated dDMRs mapped to transcriptional regulators of early skeletal patterning including MEIS1 and IRX1. Conversely, the largest hypomethylated dDMRs mapped to genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins including SPON2 and TNXB and were enriched in chondrocyte enhancers. Significant correlations were identified between the expression of these genes and methylation within the hypomethylated dDMRs. We further identified 811 CpGs at which significant dimorphism was present between the male and female samples, with the majority (68%) being hypermethylated in female samples. Following imputation, we captured the genotype of these samples at >5 million variants and performed epigenome-wide methylation quantitative trait locus (mQTL) analysis. Colocalization analysis identified 26 loci at which genetic variants exhibited shared impacts upon methylation and OA genetic risk. This included loci which have been previously reported to harbour OA-mQTLs (including GDF5 and ALDH1A2), yet the majority (73%) were novel (including those mapping to CHST3, FGF1 and TEAD1). To our knowledge, this is the first extensive study of DNA methylation across human articular cartilage development. We identify considerable methylomic plasticity within the development of knee cartilage and report active epigenomic mediators of OA risk operating in prenatal joint tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euan McDonnell
- Computational Biology Facility, University of Liverpool, MerseyBio, Crown Street, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Orr
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Barter
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Danielle Rux
- Orthopaedic Surgery, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Abby Brumwell
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Wrobel
- Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lee Murphy
- Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne M Overmann
- Human Developmental Biology Resource, Newcastle University, International Centre for Life, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Antony K Sorial
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David A Young
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie Soul
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Rice
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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3
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Riquelme-Guzmán C, Sandoval-Guzmán T. The salamander limb: a perfect model to understand imperfect integration during skeletal regeneration. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060152. [PMID: 38319134 PMCID: PMC10868587 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060152] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Limb regeneration in salamanders is achieved by a complex coordination of various biological processes and requires the proper integration of new tissue with old. Among the tissues found inside the limb, the skeleton is the most prominent component, which serves as a scaffold and provides support for locomotion in the animal. Throughout the years, researchers have studied the regeneration of the appendicular skeleton in salamanders both after limb amputation and as a result of fracture healing. The final outcome has been widely seen as a faithful re-establishment of the skeletal elements, characterised by a seamless integration into the mature tissue. The process of skeletal integration, however, is not well understood, and several works have recently provided evidence of commonly occurring flawed regenerates. In this Review, we take the reader on a journey through the course of bone formation and regeneration in salamanders, laying down a foundation for critically examining the mechanisms behind skeletal integration. Integration is a phenomenon that could be influenced at various steps of regeneration, and hence, we assess the current knowledge in the field and discuss how early events, such as tissue histolysis and patterning, influence the faithful regeneration of the appendicular skeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Riquelme-Guzmán
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center for Healthy Aging, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tatiana Sandoval-Guzmán
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Center for Healthy Aging, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of Helmholtz Centre Munich, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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4
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Yu T, Li G, Wang C, Li N, Yao R, Wang J. Defective Joint Development and Maintenance in GDF6-Related Multiple Synostoses Syndrome. J Bone Miner Res 2023; 38:568-577. [PMID: 36744814 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiple synostoses syndromes (SYNS) are a group of rare genetic bone disorders characterized by multiple joint fusions. We previously reported an SYNS4-causing GDF6 c.1330 T > A (p.Tyr444Asn) mutation, which reduced Noggin-induced GDF6 inhibition and enhanced SMAD1/5/8 signaling. However, the mechanisms by which GDF6 gain-of-function mutation alters joint formation and the comprehensive molecular portraits of SYNS4 remain unclear. Herein, we introduce the p.Tyr443Asn (orthologous to the human GDF6 p.Tyr444Asn) mutation into the mouse Gdf6 locus and report the results of extensive phenotype analysis, joint development investigation, and transcriptome profiling of Gdf6 p.Tyr443Asn limb buds. Gdf6 p.Tyr443Asn knock-in mice recapitulated the morphological features of human SYNS4, showing joint fusion in the wrists, ankles, phalanges, and auditory ossicles. Analysis of mouse embryonic forelimbs demonstrated joint interzone formation defects and excess chondrogenesis in Gdf6 p.Tyr443Asn knock-in mice. Further, RNA sequencing of forelimb buds revealed enhanced bone formation and upregulated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in mice carrying the Gdf6 p.Tyr443Asn mutation. Because tightly regulated BMP signaling is critical for skeletal development and joint morphogenesis, our study shows that enhancing GDF6 activity has a significant impact on both prenatal joint development and postnatal joint maintenance. © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Niu Li
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruen Yao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Murphy P, Rolfe RA. Building a Co-ordinated Musculoskeletal System: The Plasticity of the Developing Skeleton in Response to Muscle Contractions. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2023; 236:81-110. [PMID: 37955772 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38215-4_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The skeletal musculature and the cartilage, bone and other connective tissues of the skeleton are intimately co-ordinated. The shape, size and structure of each bone in the body is sculpted through dynamic physical stimuli generated by muscle contraction, from early development, with onset of the first embryo movements, and through repair and remodelling in later life. The importance of muscle movement during development is shown by congenital abnormalities where infants that experience reduced movement in the uterus present a sequence of skeletal issues including temporary brittle bones and joint dysplasia. A variety of animal models, utilising different immobilisation scenarios, have demonstrated the precise timing and events that are dependent on mechanical stimulation from movement. This chapter lays out the evidence for skeletal system dependence on muscle movement, gleaned largely from mouse and chick immobilised embryos, showing the many aspects of skeletal development affected. Effects are seen in joint development, ossification, the size and shape of skeletal rudiments and tendons, including compromised mechanical function. The enormous plasticity of the skeletal system in response to muscle contraction is a key factor in building a responsive, functional system. Insights from this work have implications for our understanding of morphological evolution, particularly the challenging concept of emergence of new structures. It is also providing insight for the potential of physical therapy for infants suffering the effects of reduced uterine movement and is enhancing our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in skeletal tissue differentiation, with potential for informing regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Murphy
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Rebecca A Rolfe
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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6
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Khan IM, McKenna J, Zhang Y. Articular Cartilage Chondroprogenitors: Isolation and Directed Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2598:29-44. [PMID: 36355283 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2839-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Experimental data suggests that tissue-specific progenitors are present within hyaline articular cartilage with the potential to contribute to growth, maintenance, and repair. In this chapter, we show how colony-forming progenitor-like cells can be isolated from bovine articular cartilage using differential adhesion to fibronectin. Furthermore, we describe the optimal conditions and factors required to differentiate these progenitor cells to produce hyaline articular cartilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilyas M Khan
- Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
| | - Joshua McKenna
- Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Yadan Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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7
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Godivier J, Lawrence EA, Wang M, Hammond CL, Nowlan NC. Growth orientations, rather than heterogeneous growth rates, dominate jaw joint morphogenesis in the larval zebrafish. J Anat 2022; 241:358-371. [PMID: 35510779 PMCID: PMC9296026 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In early limb embryogenesis, synovial joints acquire specific shapes which determine joint motion and function. The process by which the opposing cartilaginous joint surfaces are moulded into reciprocal and interlocking shapes, called joint morphogenesis, is one of the least understood aspects of joint formation and the cell-level dynamics underlying it are yet to be unravelled. In this research, we quantified key cellular dynamics involved in growth and morphogenesis of the zebrafish jaw joint and synthesised them in a predictive computational simulation of joint development. Cells in larval zebrafish jaw joints labelled with cartilage markers were tracked over a 48-h time window using confocal imaging. Changes in distance and angle between adjacent cell centroids resulting from cell rearrangement, volume expansion and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were measured and used to calculate the rate and direction of local tissue deformations. We observed spatially and temporally heterogeneous growth patterns with marked anisotropy over the developmental period assessed. There was notably elevated growth at the level of the retroarticular process of the Meckel's cartilage, a feature known to undergo pronounced shape changes during zebrafish development. Analysis of cell dynamics indicated a dominant role for cell volume expansion in growth, with minor influences from ECM volume increases and cell intercalation. Cell proliferation in the joint was minimal over the timeframe of interest. Synthesising the dynamic cell data into a finite element model of jaw joint development resulted in accurate shape predictions. Our biofidelic computational simulation demonstrated that zebrafish jaw joint growth can be reasonably approximated based on cell positional information over time, where cell positional information derives mainly from cell orientation and cell volume expansion. By modifying the input parameters of the simulation, we were able to assess the relative contributions of heterogeneous growth rates and of growth orientation. The use of uniform rather than heterogeneous growth rates only minorly impacted the shape predictions, whereas isotropic growth fields resulted in altered shape predictions. The simulation results suggest that growth anisotropy is the dominant influence on joint growth and morphogenesis. This study addresses the gap of the cellular processes underlying joint morphogenesis, with implications for understanding the aetiology of developmental joint disorders such as developmental dysplasia of the hip and arthrogryposis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Niamh C. Nowlan
- Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom,University College DublinDublinIreland
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8
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Pacifici M. Osteoarthritis and chronic pain: Interleukin-6 as a common denominator and therapeutic target. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eadd3702. [PMID: 35881690 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.add3702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and problematic disorder that is often associated with chronic pain, a combination that renders OA a leading cause of physical disability and an unmet clinical challenge. In this issue of Science Signaling, Liao et al. show that interleukin-6 is a driver of both joint tissue degradation and pain, revealing a common culprit and a possible comprehensive target of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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9
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Pothiawala A, Sahbazoglu BE, Ang BK, Matthias N, Pei G, Yan Q, Davis BR, Huard J, Zhao Z, Nakayama N. GDF5+ chondroprogenitors derived from human pluripotent stem cells preferentially form permanent chondrocytes. Development 2022; 149:dev196220. [PMID: 35451016 PMCID: PMC9245189 DOI: 10.1242/dev.196220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
It has been established in the mouse model that during embryogenesis joint cartilage is generated from a specialized progenitor cell type, distinct from that responsible for the formation of growth plate cartilage. We recently found that mesodermal progeny of human pluripotent stem cells gave rise to two types of chondrogenic mesenchymal cells in culture: SOX9+ and GDF5+ cells. The fast-growing SOX9+ cells formed in vitro cartilage that expressed chondrocyte hypertrophy markers and readily underwent mineralization after ectopic transplantation. In contrast, the slowly growing GDF5+ cells derived from SOX9+ cells formed cartilage that tended to express low to undetectable levels of chondrocyte hypertrophy markers, but expressed PRG4, a marker of embryonic articular chondrocytes. The GDF5+-derived cartilage remained largely unmineralized in vivo. Interestingly, chondrocytes derived from the GDF5+ cells seemed to elicit these activities via non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. Genome-wide transcriptomic analyses suggested that GDF5+ cells might contain a teno/ligamento-genic potential, whereas SOX9+ cells resembled neural crest-like progeny-derived chondroprogenitors. Thus, human pluripotent stem cell-derived GDF5+ cells specified to generate permanent-like cartilage seem to emerge coincidentally with the commitment of the SOX9+ progeny to the tendon/ligament lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azim Pothiawala
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Berke E. Sahbazoglu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bryan K. Ang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nadine Matthias
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guangsheng Pei
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qing Yan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Brian R. Davis
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Johnny Huard
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized Medicine, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, CO 81657, USA
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Naoki Nakayama
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Rux D, Helbig K, Han B, Cortese C, Koyama E, Han L, Pacifici M. Primary Cilia Direct Murine Articular Cartilage Tidemark Patterning Through Hedgehog Signaling and Ambulatory Load. J Bone Miner Res 2022; 37:1097-1116. [PMID: 35060644 PMCID: PMC9177786 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Articular cartilage (AC) is essential for body movement but is highly susceptible to degenerative diseases and has poor self-repair capacity. To improve current subpar regenerative treatments, developmental mechanisms of AC should be clarified and, specifically, how its postnatal multizone organization is acquired. Primary cilia are cell surface organelles crucial for mammalian tissue morphogenesis. Although their importance for chondrocyte function is appreciated, their specific roles in postnatal AC morphogenesis remain unclear. To explore these mechanisms, we used a murine conditional loss-of-function approach (Ift88-flox) targeting joint-lineage progenitors (Gdf5Cre) and monitored postnatal knee AC development. Joint formation and growth up to juvenile stages were largely unaffected. However, mature AC (aged 2 months) exhibited disorganized extracellular matrix, decreased aggrecan and collagen II due to reduced gene expression (not increased catabolism), and marked reduction of AC modulus by 30%-50%. In addition, and unexpectedly, we discovered that tidemark patterning was severely disrupted, as was hedgehog signaling, and exhibited specificity based on regional load-bearing functions of AC. Interestingly, Prg4 expression was markedly increased in highly loaded sites in mutants. Together, our data provide evidence that primary cilia orchestrate postnatal AC morphogenesis including tidemark topography, zonal matrix composition, and ambulation load responses. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Rux
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kimberly Helbig
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Biao Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Courtney Cortese
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eiki Koyama
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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11
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Kim M, Koyama E, Saunders CM, Querido W, Pleshko N, Pacifici M. Synovial joint cavitation initiates with microcavities in interzone and is coupled to skeletal flexion and elongation in developing mouse embryo limbs. Biol Open 2022; 11:275492. [PMID: 35608281 PMCID: PMC9212078 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The synovial cavity and its fluid are essential for joint function and lubrication, but their developmental biology remains largely obscure. Here, we analyzed E12.5 to E18.5 mouse embryo hindlimbs and discovered that cavitation initiates around E15.0 with emergence of multiple, discrete, µm-wide tissue discontinuities we term microcavities in interzone, evolving into a single joint-wide cavity within 12 h in knees and within 72-84 h in interphalangeal joints. The microcavities were circumscribed by cells as revealed by mTmG imaging and exhibited a carbohydrate and protein content based on infrared spectral imaging at micro and nanoscale. Accounting for differing cavitation kinetics, we found that the growing femur and tibia anlagen progressively flexed at the knee over time, with peak angulation around E15.5 exactly when the full knee cavity consolidated; however, interphalangeal joint geometry changed minimally over time. Indeed, cavitating knee interzone cells were elongated along the flexion angle axis and displayed oblong nuclei, but these traits were marginal in interphalangeal cells. Conditional Gdf5Cre-driven ablation of Has2 – responsible for production of the joint fluid component hyaluronic acid (HA) – delayed the cavitation process. Our data reveal that cavitation is a stepwise process, brought about by sequential action of microcavities, skeletal flexion and elongation, and HA accumulation. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Synovial joints contain a fluid-filled cavity crucial for skeletal motion and lifelong function, but the developmental biology of cavitation remains largely obscure, hampering basic and translational progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwook Kim
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eiki Koyama
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cheri M Saunders
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William Querido
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Nancy Pleshko
- Department of Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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12
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Zhang J, Zou G, Fang G. The arthroscopic minimally-invasive technique improves the clinical symptoms and facilitates the functional recovery of the lower limbs in knee joint bone trauma patients. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:13099-13107. [PMID: 34956529 PMCID: PMC8661202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to demonstrate the effect of the arthroscopic minimally invasive technique on the clinical symptoms and lower limb functional recovery in knee joint bone trauma patients. METHODS From January 2015 to January 2020, 150 knee joint bone trauma patients were recruited as the study cohort and divided into two groups according to the different intervention method each patient underwent. The patients in the control group (the CG, n=68) were administered routine treatment, and the patients in the research group (the RG, n=82) were treated using the arthroscopic minimally invasive technique. The postoperative clinical operative indexes and the clinical effectiveness, as well as the intraoperative complications were observed in the two groups. The inflammatory factor levels before and after the surgeries were compared. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was employed to evaluate the pain levels before and after the surgeries, the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Scores (HSS) were used to assess the knee joint recoveries before and at six months after the operations, and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMAS) was used to determine the lower limb functional recovery before and at six months after the operations. RESULTS The RG had significantly shorter operation times, lower intraoperative blood losses, shorter average ambulation times, shorter hospital stays, shorter fracture healing times, and smaller incisions than the CG. Postoperatively, the IL-8 and TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the RG than in the CG. The RG exhibited observably lower VAS scores after the operations, as well as evidently higher HSS scores and FMAS scores at six months postoperatively than the CG. In comparison with the CG, the RG had a significantly higher total effective rate and a noticeably lower incidence of postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS The arthroscopic minimally invasive technique is effective at treating patients with knee joint bone trauma, and it can promote the surgical recovery of patients and facilitate the functional recovery of the knee joint and the lower limbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincun Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, People’s Hospital of Baodi DistrictTianjin 301800, China
| | - Guoping Zou
- Department of Orthopedics, Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical UniversityLongyan 364000, China
| | - Guangwen Fang
- Department of Orthopedics, People’s Hospital of Baodi DistrictTianjin 301800, China
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Riquelme-Guzmán C, Schuez M, Böhm A, Knapp D, Edwards-Jorquera S, Ceccarelli AS, Chara O, Rauner M, Sandoval-Guzmán T. Postembryonic development and aging of the appendicular skeleton in Ambystoma mexicanum. Dev Dyn 2021; 251:1015-1034. [PMID: 34322944 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The axolotl is a key model to study appendicular regeneration. The limb complexity resembles that of humans in structure and tissue components; however, axolotl limbs develop postembryonically. In this work, we evaluated the postembryonic development of the appendicular skeleton and its changes with aging. RESULTS The juvenile limb skeleton is formed mostly by Sox9/Col1a2 cartilage cells. Ossification of the appendicular skeleton starts when animals reach a length of 10 cm, and cartilage cells are replaced by a primary ossification center, consisting of cortical bone and an adipocyte-filled marrow cavity. Vascularization is associated with the ossification center and the marrow cavity formation. We identified the contribution of Col1a2-descendants to bone and adipocytes. Moreover, ossification progresses with age toward the epiphyses of long bones. Axolotls are neotenic salamanders, and still ossification remains responsive to l-thyroxine, increasing the rate of bone formation. CONCLUSIONS In axolotls, bone maturation is a continuous process that extends throughout their life. Ossification of the appendicular bones is slow and continues until the complete element is ossified. The cellular components of the appendicular skeleton change accordingly during ossification, creating a heterogenous landscape in each element. The continuous maturation of the bone is accompanied by a continuous body growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Riquelme-Guzmán
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maritta Schuez
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Böhm
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dunja Knapp
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sandra Edwards-Jorquera
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alberto S Ceccarelli
- System Biology Group (SysBio), Institute of Physics of Liquids and Biological Systems (IFLySiB), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Osvaldo Chara
- System Biology Group (SysBio), Institute of Physics of Liquids and Biological Systems (IFLySiB), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.,Instituto de Tecnología, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing (ZIH), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martina Rauner
- Department of Medicine III, Universitätsklinikum Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Healthy Aging, Universitätsklinikum Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tatiana Sandoval-Guzmán
- CRTD/Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Healthy Aging, Universitätsklinikum Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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14
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Koyama E, Mundy C, Saunders C, Chung J, Catheline SE, Rux D, Iwamoto M, Pacifici M. Premature Growth Plate Closure Caused by a Hedgehog Cancer Drug Is Preventable by Co-Administration of a Retinoid Antagonist in Mice. J Bone Miner Res 2021; 36:1387-1402. [PMID: 33724538 PMCID: PMC9661967 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The growth plates are key engines of skeletal development and growth and contain a top reserve zone followed by maturation zones of proliferating, prehypertrophic, and hypertrophic/mineralizing chondrocytes. Trauma or drug treatment of certain disorders can derange the growth plates and cause accelerated maturation and premature closure, one example being anti-hedgehog drugs such as LDE225 (Sonidegib) used against pediatric brain malignancies. Here we tested whether such acceleration and closure in LDE225-treated mice could be prevented by co-administration of a selective retinoid antagonist, based on previous studies showing that retinoid antagonists can slow down chondrocyte maturation rates. Treatment of juvenile mice with an experimental dose of LDE225 for 2 days (100 mg/kg by gavage) initially caused a significant shortening of long bone growth plates, with concomitant decreases in chondrocyte proliferation; expression of Indian hedgehog, Sox9, and other key genes; and surprisingly, the number of reserve progenitors. Growth plate involution followed with time, leading to impaired long bone lengthening. Mechanistically, LDE225 treatment markedly decreased the expression of retinoid catabolic enzyme Cyp26b1 within growth plate, whereas it increased and broadened the expression of retinoid synthesizing enzyme Raldh3, thus subverting normal homeostatic retinoid circuitries and in turn accelerating maturation and closure. All such severe skeletal and molecular changes were prevented when LDE-treated mice were co-administered the selective retinoid antagonist CD2665 (1.5 mg/kg/d), a drug targeting retinoid acid receptor γ, which is most abundantly expressed in growth plate. When given alone, CD2665 elicited the expected maturation delay and growth plate expansion. In vitro data showed that LDE225 acted directly to dampen chondrogenic phenotypic expression, a response fully reversed by CD2665 co-treatment. In sum, our proof-of-principle data indicate that drug-induced premature growth plate closures can be prevented or delayed by targeting a separate phenotypic regulatory mechanism in chondrocytes. The translation applicability of the findings remains to be studied. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiki Koyama
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Christina Mundy
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Cheri Saunders
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Juliet Chung
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Sarah E. Catheline
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Danielle Rux
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Masahiro Iwamoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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15
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Rux D, Helbig K, Koyama E, Pacifici M. Hox11 expression characterizes developing zeugopod synovial joints and is coupled to postnatal articular cartilage morphogenesis into functional zones in mice. Dev Biol 2021; 477:49-63. [PMID: 34010606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies on mouse embryo limbs have established that interzone mesenchymal progenitor cells emerging at each prescribed joint site give rise to joint tissues over fetal time. These incipient tissues undergo structural maturation and morphogenesis postnatally, but underlying mechanisms of regulation remain unknown. Hox11 genes dictate overall zeugopod musculoskeletal patterning and skeletal element identities during development. Here we asked where these master regulators are expressed in developing limb joints and whether they are maintained during postnatal zeugopod joint morphogenesis. We found that Hoxa11 was predominantly expressed and restricted to incipient wrist and ankle joints in E13.5 mouse embryos, and became apparent in medial and central regions of knees by E14.5, though remaining continuously dormant in elbow joints. Closer examination revealed that Hoxa11 initially characterized interzone and neighboring cells and was then restricted to nascent articular cartilage, intra joint ligaments and structures such as meniscal horns over prenatal time. Postnatally, articular cartilage progresses from a nondescript cell-rich, matrix-poor tissue to a highly structured, thick, zonal and mechanically competent tissue with chondrocyte columns over time, most evident at sites such as the tibial plateau. Indeed, Hox11 expression (primarily Hoxa11) was intimately coupled to such morphogenetic processes and, in particular, to the topographical rearrangement of chondrocytes into columns within the intermediate and deep zones of tibial plateau that normally endures maximal mechanical loads. Revealingly, these expression patterns were maintained even at 6 months of age. In sum, our data indicate that Hox11 genes remain engaged well beyond embryonic synovial joint patterning and are specifically tied to postnatal articular cartilage morphogenesis into a zonal and resilient tissue. The data demonstrate that Hox11 genes characterize adult, terminally differentiated, articular chondrocytes and maintain region-specificity established in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Rux
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Kimberly Helbig
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eiki Koyama
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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16
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Jones K, Angelozzi M, Gangishetti U, Haseeb A, de Charleroy C, Lefebvre V, Bhattaram P. Human Adult Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes and Articular Chondrocytes Exhibit Prominent Overlap in Their Transcriptomic Signatures. ACR Open Rheumatol 2021; 3:359-370. [PMID: 33931959 PMCID: PMC8207692 DOI: 10.1002/acr2.11255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) and articular chondrocytes (AC) derive from a common pool of embryonic precursor cells. They are currently believed to engage in largely distinct differentiation programs to build synovium and articular cartilage and maintain healthy tissues throughout life. We tested this hypothesis by deeply characterizing and comparing their transcriptomic attributes. Methods We profiled the transcriptomes of freshly isolated AC, synovium, primary FLS, and dermal fibroblasts from healthy adult humans using bulk RNA sequencing assays and downloaded published single‐cell RNA sequencing data from freshly isolated human FLS. We integrated all data to define cell‐specific signatures and validated findings with quantitative reverse transcription PCR of human samples and RNA hybridization of mouse joint sections. Results We identified 212 AC and 168 FLS markers on the basis of exclusive or enriched expression in either cell and 294 AC/FLS markers on the basis of similar expression in both cells. AC markers included joint‐specific and pan‐cartilaginous genes. FLS and AC/FLS markers featured 37 and 55 joint‐specific genes, respectively, and 131 and 239 pan‐fibroblastic genes, respectively. These signatures included many previously unrecognized markers with potentially important joint‐specific roles. AC/FLS markers overlapped in their expression patterns among all FLS and AC subpopulations, suggesting that they fulfill joint‐specific properties in all, rather than in discrete, AC and FLS subpopulations. Conclusion This study broadens knowledge and identifies a prominent overlap of the human adult AC and FLS transcriptomic signatures. It also provides data resources to help further decipher mechanisms underlying joint homeostasis and degeneration and to improve the quality control of tissues engineered for regenerative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Jones
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Marco Angelozzi
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Abdul Haseeb
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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17
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Galea GL, Zein MR, Allen S, Francis-West P. Making and shaping endochondral and intramembranous bones. Dev Dyn 2020; 250:414-449. [PMID: 33314394 PMCID: PMC7986209 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal elements have a diverse range of shapes and sizes specialized to their various roles including protecting internal organs, locomotion, feeding, hearing, and vocalization. The precise positioning, size, and shape of skeletal elements is therefore critical for their function. During embryonic development, bone forms by endochondral or intramembranous ossification and can arise from the paraxial and lateral plate mesoderm or neural crest. This review describes inductive mechanisms to position and pattern bones within the developing embryo, compares and contrasts the intrinsic vs extrinsic mechanisms of endochondral and intramembranous skeletal development, and details known cellular processes that precisely determine skeletal shape and size. Key cellular mechanisms are employed at distinct stages of ossification, many of which occur in response to mechanical cues (eg, joint formation) or preempting future load‐bearing requirements. Rapid shape changes occur during cellular condensation and template establishment. Specialized cellular behaviors, such as chondrocyte hypertrophy in endochondral bone and secondary cartilage on intramembranous bones, also dramatically change template shape. Once ossification is complete, bone shape undergoes functional adaptation through (re)modeling. We also highlight how alterations in these cellular processes contribute to evolutionary change and how differences in the embryonic origin of bones can influence postnatal bone repair. Compares and contrasts Endochondral and intramembranous bone development Reviews embryonic origins of different bones Describes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of positioning skeletal elements. Describes mechanisms of skeletal growth with a focus on the generation of skeletal shape
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel L Galea
- Developmental Biology and Cancer, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,Comparative Bioveterinary Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Mohamed R Zein
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Steven Allen
- Comparative Bioveterinary Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Philippa Francis-West
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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18
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Maturating Articular Cartilage Can Induce Ectopic Joint-Like Structures in Neonatal Mice. REGENERATIVE ENGINEERING AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40883-020-00176-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is a huge health burden to our society. Seeking for potential ways to induce regeneration of articular cartilage (AC) that is intrinsically limited, we focused on the interaction between two opposing joints. To evaluate the role of the interaction of opposing regions of AC for joint maturation, we amputated digits at the distal interphalangeal level without injuring the articular surface of the intermediate phalanx (P2) and observed that the zonal organization of AC was defective. We then removed the P2 bone without injuring the articular surface of the proximal phalanx (P1), and the remaining part of the digit was amputated near the distal interphalangeal level. The distribution pattern of type II collagen and proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) suggested that maturation of AC in P1 was delayed. These two experiments suggested that an interaction between the opposing AC in a joint is necessary for maturation of the zonal organization of AC in neonatal digits. To test if an interaction of the joints is sufficient to induce articular cartilage, a proximal fragment of P2 was resected, inverted, and put back into the original location. Newly formed cartilage was induced at the interface region between the AC of the inverted graft and the cut edge of the distal part of P2. Type II collagen and PRG4 were expressed in the ectopic cartilage in a similar manner to normal AC, indicating that neonatal AC can induce ectopic joint-like structures in mice comparable with what has been reported in newts and frogs. These results suggest that the neonatal joint could be a source of inductive signals for regeneration of AC.
Lay Summary
In this study, we experimentally show that neonatal mice appear to have the capacity to regenerate articular cartilage (AC) in digits. It is already known that mice can regenerate a digit tip after amputation, but do not regenerate in response to amputations at more proximal levels. Therefore, it has been thought that mammalian joint structures are non-regenerative. However, we found that normal digit AC can induce AC-like structures in a non-joint region when it is placed next to the cut edge of a bone, suggesting that the normal AC has regenerative capacity in certain situations in neonatal mice.
Future Works
Joint disorders are a huge health problem of our society. The results of this study suggest that neonatal AC could be a potential source of inductive signals for regeneration of AC. The discovery of these inductive signals will aid in developing regenerative therapies of a joint in human.
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19
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Bhattacharya S, Hyland C, Falk MM, Iovine MK. Connexin 43 gap junctional intercellular communication inhibits evx1 expression and joint formation in regenerating fins. Development 2020; 147:dev.190512. [PMID: 32541014 DOI: 10.1242/dev.190512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The gap junction protein Connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to cell fate decisions that determine the location of fin ray joints during regeneration. Here, we provide insights into how Cx43, expressed medially, influences changes in gene expression in lateral skeletal precursor cells. Using the Gap27 peptide inhibitor specific to Cx43, we show that Cx43-gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) influences Cx43-dependent skeletal phenotypes, including segment length. We also demonstrate that Cx43-GJIC influences the expression of the Smp/β-catenin pathway in the lateral skeletal precursor cells, and does not influence the Sema3d pathway. Moreover, we show that the cx43lh10 allele, which has increased Cx43 protein levels, exhibits increased regenerate length and segment length. These phenotypes are rescued by Gap27, suggesting that increased Cx43 is responsible for the observed Cx43 phenotypes. Finally, our findings suggest that inhibition of Cx43 hemichannel activity does not influence Cx43-dependent skeletal phenotypes. These data provide evidence that Cx43-GJIC is responsible for regulating cell fate decisions associated with appropriate joint formation in the regenerating fin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin Hyland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
| | - Matthias M Falk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
| | - M Kathryn Iovine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18020, USA
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20
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The Roles of Indian Hedgehog Signaling in TMJ Formation. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20246300. [PMID: 31847127 PMCID: PMC6941023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20246300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an intricate structure composed of the mandibular condyle, articular disc, and glenoid fossa in the temporal bone. Apical condylar cartilage is classified as a secondary cartilage, is fibrocartilaginous in nature, and is structurally distinct from growth plate and articular cartilage in long bones. Condylar cartilage is organized in distinct cellular layers that include a superficial layer that produces lubricants, a polymorphic/progenitor layer that contains stem/progenitor cells, and underlying layers of flattened and hypertrophic chondrocytes. Uniquely, progenitor cells reside near the articular surface, proliferate, undergo chondrogenesis, and mature into hypertrophic chondrocytes. During the past decades, there has been a growing interest in the molecular mechanisms by which the TMJ develops and acquires its unique structural and functional features. Indian hedgehog (Ihh), which regulates skeletal development including synovial joint formation, also plays pivotal roles in TMJ development and postnatal maintenance. This review provides a description of the many important recent advances in Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in TMJ biology. These include studies that used conventional approaches and those that analyzed the phenotype of tissue-specific mouse mutants lacking Ihh or associated molecules. The recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanism regulating TMJ development are impressive and these findings will have major implications for future translational medicine tools to repair and regenerate TMJ congenital anomalies and acquired diseases, such as degenerative damage in TMJ osteoarthritic conditions.
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21
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Marín-Llera JC, Garciadiego-Cázares D, Chimal-Monroy J. Understanding the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms That Control Early Cell Fate Decisions During Appendicular Skeletogenesis. Front Genet 2019; 10:977. [PMID: 31681419 PMCID: PMC6797607 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of the vertebrate skeleton is orchestrated in time and space by a number of gene regulatory networks that specify and position all skeletal tissues. During embryonic development, bones have two distinct origins: bone tissue differentiates directly from mesenchymal progenitors, whereas most long bones arise from cartilaginous templates through a process known as endochondral ossification. Before endochondral bone development takes place, chondrocytes form a cartilage analgen that will be sequentially segmented to form joints; thus, in the cartilage template, either the cartilage maturation programme or the joint formation programme is activated. Once the cartilage differentiation programme starts, the growth plate begins to form. In contrast, when the joint formation programme is activated, a capsule begins to form that contains special articular cartilage and synovium to generate a functional joint. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms controlling the earliest molecular events that regulate cell fate during skeletogenesis in long bones. We will explore the initial processes that lead to the recruitment of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells, the commitment of chondrocyte lineages, and the formation of skeletal elements during morphogenesis. Thereafter, we will review the process of joint specification and joint morphogenesis. We will discuss the links between transcription factor activity, cell–cell interactions, cell–extracellular matrix interactions, growth factor signalling, and other molecular interactions that control mesenchymal stem/progenitor cell fate during embryonic skeletogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cristina Marín-Llera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Jesús Chimal-Monroy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
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22
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SOX9 in cartilage development and disease. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2019; 61:39-47. [PMID: 31382142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2019.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
SOX9 is a pivotal transcription factor in chondrocytes, a lineage essential in skeletogenesis. Its mandatory role in transactivating many cartilage-specific genes is well established, whereas its pioneer role in lineage specification, which along with transactivation defines master transcription factors, remains to be better defined. Abundant, but yet incomplete evidence exists that intricate molecular networks control SOX9 activity during the multi-step chondrogenesis pathway. They include a highly modular genetic regulation, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications, and varying sets of functional partners. Fully uncovering SOX9 actions and regulation is fundamental to explain mechanisms underlying many diseases that directly or indirectly affect SOX9 activities and to design effective disease treatments. We here review current knowledge, highlight recent discoveries, and propose new research directions to answer remaining questions.
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