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Gui T, Wei Y, Luo L, Li J, Zhong L, Yao L, Beier F, Nelson CL, Tsourkas A, Liu XS, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Yu F, Cheng Z, Qin L. Activating EGFR Signaling Attenuates Osteoarthritis Development Following Loading Injury in Mice. J Bone Miner Res 2022; 37:2498-2511. [PMID: 36178273 PMCID: PMC10183199 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) results in joint pain, loss of joint function, and impaired quality of daily life in patients with limited treatment options. We previously demonstrated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is essential for maintaining chondroprogenitors during articular cartilage development and homeostasis. Here, we used a nonsurgical, loading-induced PTOA mouse model to investigate the protective action of EGFR signaling. A single bout of cyclic tibial loading at a peak force of 6 N injured cartilage at the posterior aspect of lateral femoral condyle. Similar loading at a peak force of 9 N ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament, causing additional cartilage damage at the medial compartment and ectopic cartilage formation in meniscus and synovium. Constitutively overexpression of an EGFR ligand, heparin binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF), in chondrocytes significantly reduced cartilage injury length, synovitis, and pain after 6 N loading and mitigated medial side cartilage damage and ectopic cartilage formation after 9 N loading. Mechanistically, overactivation of EGFR signaling protected chondrocytes from loading-induced apoptosis and loss of proliferative ability and lubricant synthesis. Overexpressing HBEGF in adult cartilage starting right before 6 N loading had similar beneficial effects. In contrast, inactivating EGFR in adult cartilage led to accelerated PTOA progression with elevated cartilage Mankin score and synovitis score and increased ectopic cartilage formation. As a therapeutic approach, we constructed a nanoparticle conjugated with the EGFR ligand TGFα. Intra-articular injections of this nanoconstruct once every 3 weeks for 12 weeks partially mitigated PTOA symptoms in cartilage and synovium after 6 N loading. Our findings demonstrate the anabolic actions of EGFR signaling in maintaining articular cartilage during PTOA development and shed light on developing a novel nanomedicine for PTOA. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Gui
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yulong Wei
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijun Luo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- School of Agricultural Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leilei Zhong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lutian Yao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Frank Beier
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Charles L. Nelson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Tsourkas
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - X. Sherry Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Motomi Enomoto-Iwamoto
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Feifan Yu
- AlphaThera, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zhiliang Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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3
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Wei Y, Ma X, Sun H, Gui T, Li J, Yao L, Zhong L, Yu W, Han B, Nelson CL, Han L, Beier F, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Ahn J, Qin L. EGFR Signaling Is Required for Maintaining Adult Cartilage Homeostasis and Attenuating Osteoarthritis Progression. J Bone Miner Res 2022; 37:1012-1023. [PMID: 35191092 PMCID: PMC9098673 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The uppermost superficial zone of articular cartilage is the first line of defense against the initiation of osteoarthritis (OA). We previously used Col2-Cre to demonstrate that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a tyrosine kinase receptor, plays an essential role in maintaining superficial chondrocytes during articular cartilage development. Here, we showed that EGFR activity in the articular cartilage decreased as mice age. In mouse and human OA samples, EGFR activity was initially reduced at the superficial layer and then resurged in cell clusters within the middle and deep zone in late OA. To investigate the role of EGFR signaling in postnatal and adult cartilage, we constructed an inducible mouse model with cartilage-specific EGFR inactivation (Aggrecan-CreER EgfrWa5/flox , Egfr iCKO). EdU incorporation revealed that postnatal Egfr iCKO mice contained fewer slow-cycling cells than controls. EGFR deficiency induced at 3 months of age reduced cartilage thickness and diminished superficial chondrocytes, in parallel to alterations in lubricin production, cell proliferation, and survival. Furthermore, male Egfr iCKO mice developed much more severe OA phenotypes, including cartilage erosion, subchondral bone plate thickening, cartilage degeneration at the lateral site, and mechanical allodynia, after receiving destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. Similar OA phenotypes were also observed in female iCKO mice. Moreover, tamoxifen injections of iCKO mice at 1 month post-surgery accelerated OA development 2 months later. In summary, our data demonstrated that chondrogenic EGFR signaling maintains postnatal slow-cycling cells and plays a critical role in adult cartilage homeostasis and OA progression. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Wei
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Departent of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Ma
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Hao Sun
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tao Gui
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lutian Yao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leilei Zhong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Departent of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Biao Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charles L Nelson
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Frank Beier
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Motomi Enomoto-Iwamoto
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jaimo Ahn
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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4
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Jones G, Trajanoska K, Santanasto AJ, Stringa N, Kuo CL, Atkins JL, Lewis JR, Duong T, Hong S, Biggs ML, Luan J, Sarnowski C, Lunetta KL, Tanaka T, Wojczynski MK, Cvejkus R, Nethander M, Ghasemi S, Yang J, Zillikens MC, Walter S, Sicinski K, Kague E, Ackert-Bicknell CL, Arking DE, Windham BG, Boerwinkle E, Grove ML, Graff M, Spira D, Demuth I, van der Velde N, de Groot LCPGM, Psaty BM, Odden MC, Fohner AE, Langenberg C, Wareham NJ, Bandinelli S, van Schoor NM, Huisman M, Tan Q, Zmuda J, Mellström D, Karlsson M, Bennett DA, Buchman AS, De Jager PL, Uitterlinden AG, Völker U, Kocher T, Teumer A, Rodriguéz-Mañas L, García FJ, Carnicero JA, Herd P, Bertram L, Ohlsson C, Murabito JM, Melzer D, Kuchel GA, Ferrucci L, Karasik D, Rivadeneira F, Kiel DP, Pilling LC. Genome-wide meta-analysis of muscle weakness identifies 15 susceptibility loci in older men and women. Nat Commun 2021; 12:654. [PMID: 33510174 PMCID: PMC7844411 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20918-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Low muscle strength is an important heritable indicator of poor health linked to morbidity and mortality in older people. In a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 256,523 Europeans aged 60 years and over from 22 cohorts we identify 15 loci associated with muscle weakness (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People definition: n = 48,596 cases, 18.9% of total), including 12 loci not implicated in previous analyses of continuous measures of grip strength. Loci include genes reportedly involved in autoimmune disease (HLA-DQA1 p = 4 × 10-17), arthritis (GDF5 p = 4 × 10-13), cell cycle control and cancer protection, regulation of transcription, and others involved in the development and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system. Using Mendelian randomization we report possible overlapping causal pathways, including diabetes susceptibility, haematological parameters, and the immune system. We conclude that muscle weakness in older adults has distinct mechanisms from continuous strength, including several pathways considered to be hallmarks of ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garan Jones
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Katerina Trajanoska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adam J Santanasto
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Najada Stringa
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chia-Ling Kuo
- Biostatistics Center, Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Janice L Atkins
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Joshua R Lewis
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- School fo Public Health University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - ThuyVy Duong
- McKusick-Nathans Institute, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shengjun Hong
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Plattform for Genome Analytics, Institutes of Neurogenetics and Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mary L Biggs
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jian'an Luan
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Chloe Sarnowski
- Biostatistics Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathryn L Lunetta
- Biostatistics Department, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Toshiko Tanaka
- Longitudinal Study Section, Translational Gerontology branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary K Wojczynski
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ryan Cvejkus
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Maria Nethander
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sahar Ghasemi
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jingyun Yang
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center & Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M Carola Zillikens
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Walter
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Kamil Sicinski
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Erika Kague
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Dan E Arking
- McKusick-Nathans Institute, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B Gwen Windham
- Department of Medicine/Geriatrics, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Megan L Grove
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Misa Graff
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
| | - Dominik Spira
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilja Demuth
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT - Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nathalie van der Velde
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lisette C P G M de Groot
- Wageningen University, Division of Human Nutrition, PO-box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bruce M Psaty
- Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michelle C Odden
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alison E Fohner
- Department of Epidemiology and Institute of Public Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claudia Langenberg
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Nicholas J Wareham
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | | | - Natasja M van Schoor
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Huisman
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam UMC- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qihua Tan
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Joseph Zmuda
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dan Mellström
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Geriatric Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Clinical and Molecular Osteoporosis Research Unit, Department of Orthopedics and Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center & Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Aron S Buchman
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center & Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Center for Translational and Systems Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andre G Uitterlinden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Thomas Kocher
- Department of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology, Endodontology, and Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Leocadio Rodriguéz-Mañas
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Geriatrics, Getafe University Hospital, Getafe, Spain
| | - Francisco J García
- CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital Virgen del Valle, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo, Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Pamela Herd
- Professor of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lars Bertram
- Lübeck Interdisciplinary Plattform for Genome Analytics, Institutes of Neurogenetics and Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Claes Ohlsson
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Drug Treatment, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joanne M Murabito
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Melzer
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - George A Kuchel
- Center on Aging, University of Connecticut Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | | | - David Karasik
- Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Fernando Rivadeneira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Douglas P Kiel
- Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife and Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke C Pilling
- Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
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6
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Bellini M, Pest MA, Miranda-Rodrigues M, Qin L, Jeong JW, Beier F. Overexpression of MIG-6 in the cartilage induces an osteoarthritis-like phenotype in mice. Arthritis Res Ther 2020; 22:119. [PMID: 32430054 PMCID: PMC7236969 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-020-02213-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage. Mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) has been identified as a negative regulator of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Cartilage-specific Mig-6 knockout (KO) mice display increased EGFR signaling, an anabolic buildup of the articular cartilage, and formation of chondro-osseous nodules. Since our understanding of the EGFR/Mig-6 network in the cartilage remains incomplete, we characterized mice with cartilage-specific overexpression of Mig-6 in this study. METHODS Utilizing knee joints from cartilage-specific Mig-6-overexpressing (Mig-6over/over) mice (at multiple time points), we evaluated the articular cartilage using histology, immunohistochemical staining, and semi-quantitative histopathological scoring (OARSI) at multiple ages. MicroCT analysis was employed to examine skeletal morphometry, body composition, and bone mineral density. RESULTS Our data show that cartilage-specific Mig-6 overexpression did not cause any major developmental abnormalities in the articular cartilage, although Mig-6over/over mice have slightly shorter long bones compared to the control group. Moreover, there was no significant difference in bone mineral density and body composition in any of the groups. However, our results indicate that Mig-6over/over male mice show accelerated cartilage degeneration at 12 and 18 months of age. Immunohistochemistry for SOX9 demonstrated that the number of positively stained cells in Mig-6over/over mice was decreased relative to controls. Immunostaining for MMP13 appeared increased in areas of cartilage degeneration in Mig-6over/over mice. Moreover, staining for phospho-EGFR (Tyr-1173) and lubricin (PRG4) was decreased in the articular cartilage of Mig-6over/over mice. CONCLUSION Overexpression of Mig-6 in the articular cartilage causes no major developmental phenotype; however, these mice develop earlier OA during aging. These data demonstrate that Mig-6/EGFR pathways are critical for joint homeostasis and might present a promising therapeutic target for OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Bellini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Western University Bone and Joint Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael A Pest
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Western University Bone and Joint Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Manuela Miranda-Rodrigues
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Western University Bone and Joint Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Frank Beier
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Western University Bone and Joint Institute, London, ON, Canada.
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
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