Project description:During the past two decades although many genes e.g.,Gdf5, Wnt9a, Noggin etc. have been identified and characterized in joint development, still a comprehensive understanding of molecular network operational in articular cartilage morphogenesis is far from being drawn. This might be due to incompleteness in the number of molecules identified. We used microarray profiling to identify chicken articular cartilage specific genes. We decided to conduct microarray-based transcriptome comparison of HH38 (E12) and HH40 (E14). As it is difficult to clearly dissect out articular cartilage even at these late stages we decided to identify the transcripts that are enriched in the transient + articular cartilage (TC+AC) over pure transient cartilage (TC) thus using TC as control or reference samples
Project description:We compared gene expression profiles of SFZ and deep AC of articular cartilage through laser microdissection (LMD) using adhesive tape, linear amplification of mRNA, and mRNA-seq analysis. gene expression profiles of SFZ and deep AC obtained from the proximal tibia of two adult rats
Project description:Analysis of gene expression differences between human neonatal articular cartilage and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-derived cartilage, to identify novel molecular signature for tissue engineered articular cartilage Abstract: Cellular differentiation comprises a progressive, multistep program that drives cells to fabricate a tissue with specific and site distinctive structural and functional properties. Cartilage constitutes one of the potential differentiation lineages that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can follow under the guidance of specific bioactive agents. Single agents such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 in unchanging culture conditions have been historically used to induce in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. Despite the expression of traditional chon- drogenic biomarkers such as type II collagen and aggrecan, the resulting tissue represents a transient cartilage rather than an in vivo articular cartilage (AC), differing significantly in structure, chemical composition, cellular phenotypes, and mechanical properties. Moreover, there have been no comprehensive, multicomponent parameters to define high- quality and functional engineered hyaline AC. To address these issues, we have taken an innovative approach based on the molecular interrogation of human neonatal articular cartilage (hNAC), dissected from the knees of 1-month-old cadaveric specimens. Subsequently, we compared hNAC-specific transcriptional regulatory elements and differentially expressed genes with adult human bone marrow (hBM) MSC-derived three-dimensional cartilage structures formed in vitro. Using microarray analysis, the transcriptome of hNAC was found to be globally distinct from the transient, cartilage-like tissue formed by hBM-MSCs in vitro. Specifically, over 500 genes that are highly expressed in hNAC were not expressed at any time point during in vitro human MSC chondrogenesis. The analysis also showed that the differences were less variant during the initial stages (first 7 days) of the in vitro chondrogenic differentiation program. These observations suggest that the endochondral fate of hBM-MSC-derived cartilage may be rerouted at earlier stages of the TGF-b-stimulated chondrogenic differentiation program. Based on these analyses, several key molecular dif- ferences (transcription factors and coded cartilage-related proteins) were identified in hNAC that will be useful as molecular inductors and identifiers of the in vivo AC phenotype. Our findings provide a new gold standard of a molecularly defined AC phenotype that will serve as a platform to generate novel approaches for AC tissue engineering.
Project description:We compared gene expression profiles of SFZ and deep AC of articular cartilage through laser microdissection (LMD) using adhesive tape, linear amplification of mRNA, and mRNA-seq analysis.
Project description:The aim of this transcription profiling study was to identify novel genes that could be used to distinguish bovine Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells from articular cartilage (AC) and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells and to further determine their expression in normal and degenerate human intervertebral disc (IVD). This study has identified a number of novel genes that characterise the bovine and human NP and IVD cell phenotypes and allows for discrimination between AC, AF and NP cells.<br><br>
Project description:Osteoarthritis (OA), which carries an enormous disease burden across the world, is characterised by irreversible degeneration of articular cartilage (AC), and subsequently of bone. The cellular cause of OA is unknown. Here, using lineage tracing in mice, we show that the BMP-antagonist Gremlin 1 (Grem1) marks a novel chondrogenic stem/progenitor (CSP) cell population in the articular surface that generates joint cartilage and subchondral bone during development and adulthood. Notably, this CSP population is depleted when OA-inducing injury is created in two independent models, and with age. OA is also induced by toxin mediated ablation of Grem1 CSP cells in young mice. Transcriptomic analysis and functional modelling in mice revealed articular surface Grem1 CSP cells are dependent on Foxo1; ablation of Foxo1 in Grem1 cells also led to early OA. This analysis identified FGFR3 signalling as a therapeutic target, and injection of its activator, FGF18, caused proliferation of Grem1 CSP cells (but not hypertrophic AC), increased cartilage thickness, and reduced OA pathology. We propose that OA arises from the loss of CSP cells at the articular surface secondary to an imbalance in stem/progenitor cell homeostasis and present a new stem cell progenitor population as a locus for OA therapy.
Project description:The nucleus pulposus (NP) is composed of notochordal NP cells (NCs) and chondrocyte-like NP cells (CLCs). CLCs and chondrocytes have been reported to be similar. However, the interactions between CLCs and NCs remain unclear. In this study, to clarify how cells in NP and chondrocytes are regulated, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of articular cartilage (AC) and NP of cynomolgus monkeys and found that part of CLCs and articular chondrocytes had similar gene expression profiles. These cells were enriched for genes related to GLI1, the nuclear mediator of the hedgehog pathway. In the NP, cell–cell interaction analysis revealed sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression in NCs, resulting in hedgehog signaling to CLCs, whereas no chondrocytes in our AC samples expressed hedgehog ligands.
Project description:Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative joint condition, leading to articular cartilage (AC) degradation, chronic pain and immobility. The lack of appropriate therapies that provide tissue restoration combined with the limited lifespan of joint-replacement implants indicate the need for alternative AC regeneration strategies. Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into AC progenitors may provide a long-term regenerative solution but are still limited due to the continued reliance upon growth factors to recapitulate developmental signalling processes. Recently, TTNPB, a small molecule activator of retinoic acid receptors (RARs), has been shown to be sufficient to guide mesodermal specification and early chondrogenesis of hPSCs. Here, we modified our previous differentiation protocol, by supplementing cells with TTNPB and administering BMP2 at specific times to enhance early development.
Project description:Cells from the superficial (AACS), middle (AACM) and deep (AACD) adult articular cartilage zones and the intermediate (II) and outer (OI) interzone layers and the transient embryonic cartilage of the long bone anlagen (EC) at gestational day 40 were separately collected using laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis was performed to confirm appropriate layer selection.
Project description:To identify genes that maintain the homeostasis of the articular cartilage, we compared gene expression profiles of adult articular cartilage chondrocytes with that of growth plate cartilage chondrocytes in adult (10-week-old) Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Furthermore, to identify genes that have a potency to regenerate the articular cartilage, we compared gene expression profiles of superficial layer chondrocytes of infant epiphyseal cartilage which form articular cartilage with that of the deep layer chondrocytes which form growth plate cartilage in infant (6-day-old) SD rats.