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Phenotypic characterization of epiphycan-deficient and epiphycan/biglycan double-deficient mice.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To characterize the in vivo role epiphycan (Epn) has in cartilage development and/or maintenance. METHODS:Epn-deficient mice were generated by disrupting the Epn gene in mouse embryonic stem cells. Epn/biglycan (Bgn) double-deficient mice were produced by crossing Epn-deficient mice with Bgn-deficient mice. Whole knee joint histological sections were stained using van Gieson or Fast green/Safranin-O to analyze collagen or proteoglycan content, respectively. Microarray analysis was performed to detect gene expression changes within knee joints. RESULTS:Epn-deficient and Epn/Bgn double-deficient mice appeared normal at birth. No significant difference in body weight or femur length was detected in any animal at 1 month of age. However, 9-month Epn/Bgn double-deficient mice were significantly lighter and had shorter femurs than wild type mice, regardless of gender. Male Epn-deficient mice also had significantly shorter femurs than wild type mice at 9 months. Most of the deficient animals developed osteoarthritis (OA) with age; the onset of OA was observed earliest in Epn/Bgn double-deficient mice. Message RNA isolated from Epn/Bgn double-deficient knee joints displayed increased matrix protein expression compared with wild type mice, including other small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) members such as asporin, fibromodulin and lumican. CONCLUSION:Similar to other previously studied SLRPs, EPN plays an important role in maintaining joint integrity. However, the severity of the OA phenotype in the Epn/Bgn double-deficient mouse suggests a synergy between these two proteins. These data are the first to show a genetic interaction involving class I and class III SLRPs in vivo.

SUBMITTER: Nuka S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3013283 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Phenotypic characterization of epiphycan-deficient and epiphycan/biglycan double-deficient mice.

Nuka S S Zhou W W Henry S P SP Gendron C M CM Schultz J B JB Shinomura T T Johnson J J Wang Y Y Keene D R DR Ramírez-Solis R R Behringer R R RR Young M F MF Höök M M

Osteoarthritis and cartilage 20091118 1

<h4>Objective</h4>To characterize the in vivo role epiphycan (Epn) has in cartilage development and/or maintenance.<h4>Methods</h4>Epn-deficient mice were generated by disrupting the Epn gene in mouse embryonic stem cells. Epn/biglycan (Bgn) double-deficient mice were produced by crossing Epn-deficient mice with Bgn-deficient mice. Whole knee joint histological sections were stained using van Gieson or Fast green/Safranin-O to analyze collagen or proteoglycan content, respectively. Microarray an ...[more]

PMID: 19932218

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Project description:Although tumor necrosis factor (TNF) initially came to prominence because of its anti-tumor activity, most attention is now focused on its proinflammatory actions. TNF appears to play a critical role in both early and late events involved in inflammation, from localizing the noxious agent and amplifying the cellular and mediator responses at the local site and systemically, to editing (e.g., apoptosis) injured cells or effete immune cells and repairing inflammatory damage. We have generated mice deficient in TNF (TNF-/- mice) and have begun to examine the multiple functions attributed to TNF. TNF-/- mice develop normally and have no gross structural or morphological abnormalities. As predicted, they are highly susceptible to challenge with an infectious agent (Candida albicans), are resistant to the lethality of minute doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) following D-galactosamine treatment, have a deficiency in granuloma development, and do not form germinal centers after immunization. Phagocytic activity of macrophages appears relatively normal, as do T cell functions, as measured by proliferation, cytokine release, and cytotoxicity. B cell response to thymus-independent antigens is normal, but the Ig response to thymus-dependent antigen is reduced. Surprisingly, cytokine production induced by LPS appears essentially intact, with the exception of reduced colony-stimulating factor activity. Other unexpected findings coming from our initial analysis are as follows. (i) TNF has low toxicity in TNF-/- mice. (ii) TNF-/- mice show an anomalous late response to heat-killed Corynebacterium parvum. In contrast to the prompt response (granuloma formation, hepatosplenomegaly) and subsequent resolution phase in C. parvum-injected TNF+/+ mice, similarly treated TNF-/- mice show little or no initial response, but then develop a vigorous, disorganized inflammatory response leading to death. These results suggest that TNF has an essential homeostatic role in limiting the extent and duration of an inflammatory process-i.e., an anti-inflammatory function. (iii) In contrast to the expectation that TNF+/+ mice and TNF+/- mice would have identical phenotypes, TNF+/- mice showed increased susceptibility to high-dose LPS lethality, increased susceptibility to Candida challenge, and delayed resolution of the C. parvum-induced inflammatory process, indicating a strong gene dose requirement for different actions of TNF.

Dataset Information

Phenotypic characterization of epiphycan-deficient and epiphycan/biglycan double-deficient mice.

Publications

Phenotypic characterization of epiphycan-deficient and epiphycan/biglycan double-deficient mice.

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