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JNK2 controls aggrecan degradation in murine articular cartilage and the development of experimental osteoarthritis.

Abstract:

Objectives: The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is poorly understood. Loss of the proteoglycan aggrecan from the cartilage is an early event. Recently, we identified a role for the JNK pathway, particularly JNK2, in human articular chondrocytes regulating aggrecan degradation. To understand whether JNK2 plays a similar role in vivo, we investigated the development of OA in JNK2-/- mice by using the surgical model of destabilizing the medial meniscus (DMM). The role of JNK2 in gene expression was also investigated.

Methods: Aggrecan fragments were analysed by western blotting. OA was induced by DMM and analysed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-surgery. Knee sections were stained with Safranin O. Medial compartments were scored by histological grading for aggrecan loss and cartilage damage. RNA was extracted from JNK2-/- and wild-type knees 6hrs following DMM or after IL1 stimulation of proximal epiphysis. Expression of 33 DMM-regulated genes was analysed by q-PCR customized array cards.

Results: Basal and IL-1- or TNF-stimulated release of aggrecanase-generated aggrecan fragments were much reduced in JNK2-/- cartilage. In the OA model, JNK2-/- mice showed significant reduction of aggrecanase-generated fragments and cartilage damage. Of 33 genes investigated, 13 were significantly down-regulated in JNK2-/- mice following DMM compared with wild-type. These included Has1, ADAMTS4, Tnf, IL6, IL18, Inhba, Cd68, Ngf, Ccr2, Wnt16, Tnfaip6 and Il1r, but not ADAMTS-5.

Conclusions: JNK2 regulates aggrecan degradation in cultured murine cartilage and surgically-induced OA in vivo following mechanical destabilisation of the knee-joint. This implicates the JNK signalling pathway in OA and suggests novel therapeutic approaches.

Publication status:
In press
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1002/art.39547

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
Arthritis and rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) More from this journal
Pages:
n/a-n/a
Publication date:
2015-12-01
DOI:
EISSN:
2326-5205
ISSN:
2326-5191


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:585776
UUID:
uuid:f964db46-a112-450c-b646-c6146d6f956e
Local pid:
pubs:585776
Source identifiers:
585776
Deposit date:
2016-02-04

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