Type X collagen, a natural component of mouse articular cartilage : association with growth, aging, and osteoarthritis.

• OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic study on the production and deposition of type X collagen in developing, aging, and osteoarthritic (OA) mouse articular cartilage.METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was employed to define the distribution of type X collagen and Northern analyses to determine the messenger RNA levels as an indicator of the synthetic activity of the protein.RESULTS: Type X collagen was observed in the epiphyseal and articular cartilage of mouse knee joints throughout development and growth. Type X collagen deposition in the transitional zone of articular cartilage became evident toward cessation of growth, at the age of 2-3 months. The most intense staining for type X collagen was limited to the tidemark, the border between uncalcified and calcified cartilage. Northern analysis confirmed that the type X collagen gene is also transcribed by articular cartilage chondrocytes. Intense immunostaining was observed in the areas of OA lesions, specifically, at sites of osteophyte formation and surface fibrillation. Type X collagen deposition was also seen in degenerating menisci.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that type X collagen is a natural component of mouse articular cartilage throughout development, growth, and aging. This finding and the deposition of type X collagen at sites of OA lesions suggest that type X collagen may have a role in providing structural support for articular cartilage.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Articular cartilge

mouse

type X collagen

growth

ageing

biokemi

Biochemistry

molekylärbiologi

Molecular Biology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)