Role In Endochondral Ossification Research Articles

Craniofacial abnormalities in mice carrying a dominant interference mutation in type X collagen

Type X collagen is a short, non-fibril forming collagen restricted to hypertrophic cartilage, and has been hypothesized to play a role in endochondral ossification. The purpose of the study was to investigate the consequences resulting from the interference of type X collagen function on the growth and development of the craniofacial skeleton through analysis of transgenic mice with a dominant interference mutation for type X collagen. The craniofacial tissues of 21-day-old transgenic mice were examined by: cephalometric and radiographic densitometry analyses, conventional histology, and immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for either endogenous mouse type X collagen or the transgene product. Genotypically positive mutant mice showed moderate but statistically significant craniofacial skeletal abnormalities, including the underdevelopment of the chondrocranium and mandible, but no cleft palate. Mean radiographic optical densities of the mutant condylar cartilage and the subchondylar areas were 32% less than the corresponding areas of normal mandibles, while mean radiographic optical density measured at the incisor tooth point remained constant. Histologically, transgene-positive mice revealed compressed hypertrophic cartilage zones and reduced trabeculae in both the mandibular condyle and the synchondroses of the chondrocranium. In the normal condyle, mouse type X collagen was localized by the monospecific antibody against a synthetic rat type X collagen NC1 peptide throughout the hypertrophic cartilage layer; in the mutant condyle, immunoreactivity to endogenous type X collagen was only seen sporadically. The truncated type X collagen transgene product, identified with the monoclonal antibody against an epitope within the chick type X collagen NC2 domain, persisted in the lower hypertrophic cartilage layer and the primary spongiosa, rather than being removed by subsequent endochondral ossification. The data suggested that the expression of the chick type X collagen transgene product was strongly associated with the craniofacial skeletal abnormalities that were distinct from other cartilage-related phenotypes. Dev. Dyn. 208:544–552, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Craniofacial abnormalities in mice carrying a dominant interference mutation in type X collagen.

Type X collagen is a short, non-fibril forming collagen restricted to hypertrophic cartilage, and has been hypothesized to play a role in endochondral ossification. The purpose of the study was to investigate the consequences resulting from the interference of type X collagen function on the growth and development of the craniofacial skeleton through analysis of transgenic mice with a dominant interference mutation for type X collagen. The craniofacial tissues of 21-day-old transgenic mice were examined by: cephalometric and radiographic densitometry analyses, conventional histology, and immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for either endogenous mouse type X collagen or the transgene product. Genotypically positive mutant mice showed moderate but statistically significant craniofacial skeletal abnormalities, including the underdevelopment of the chondrocranium and mandible, but no cleft palate. Mean radiographic optical densities of the mutant condylar cartilage and the subchondylar areas were 32% less than the corresponding areas of normal mandibles, while mean radiographic optical density measured at the incisor tooth point remained constant. Histologically, transgene-positive mice revealed compressed hypertrophic cartilage zones and reduced trabeculae in both the mandibular condyle and the synchondroses of the chondrocranium. In the normal condyle, mouse type X collagen was localized by the monospecific antibody against a synthetic rat type X collagen NC1 peptide throughout the hypertrophic cartilage layer; in the mutant condyle, immunoreactivity to endogenous type X collagen was only seen sporadically. The truncated type X collagen transgene product, identified with the monoclonal antibody against an epitope within the chick type X collagen NC2 domain, persisted in the lower hypertrophic cartilage layer and the primary spongiosa, rather than being removed by subsequent endochondral ossification. The data suggested that the expression of the chick type X collagen transgene product was strongly associated with the craniofacial skeletal abnormalities that were distinct from other cartilage-related phenotypes.

The matrix Gla protein gene is a marker of the chondrogenesis cell lineage during mouse development

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is, along with osteocalcin, a skeletal member of the family of extracellular mineral-binding Gla proteins. Although the precise function of these proteins remains obscure, circumstantial evidence suggests that they play a role in endochondral ossification. As a first step toward understanding MGP function we have performed a preliminary characterization of its promoter element and studied the developmental pattern of expression of this gene. DNA transfection experiments indicate that the mouse MGP promoter functions better in cells expressing the MGP gene than in cells that do not express the gene. During mouse development, MGP gene expression is detectable as early as day 10.5 of embryonic development (E10.5), before any skeletal structures are identifiable. In situ hybridization analysis shows that MGP mRNA is initially present at the mesenchymal epithelial interphase in lung and limb buds. As development proceeds, MGP gene is predominantly expressed in cells of the chondrocytic lineage in areas that will undergo endochondral ossification as well as in areas that will remain cartilaginous, such as the trachea and bronchi. In growth plate cartilage, MGP mRNA is present in resting, proliferative, and late hypertrophic chondrocytes. Surprisingly, MGP mRNA is absent from the early hypertrophic chondrocytes and from the osteoblasts. Finally, the MGP gene is expressed at a lower level in kidney medulla and uterus smooth muscle but not in brain, spleen, or heart during development. This study demonstrates that during development MGP gene expression occurs early and is predominant at the epithelial mesenchymal interfaces, principally of lung and limb buds, and in cells of the chondrocytic lineage. This finding raises the intriguing possibility that MGP may play distinct roles during embryogenesis and in the adult organism.

Retinoic acid treatment induces type X collagen gene expression in cultured chick chondrocytes

The vitamin A derivative retinoic acid (RA) is widely thought to be involved in cartilage development, but its precise roles and mechanisms of action in this complex process remain unclear. We have tested the hypothesis that RA is involved in chondrocyte maturation during endochondral ossification and, in particular, is an inducer of maturation-associated traits such as type X collagen and alkaline phosphatase. Immature chondrocytes isolated from the caudal region of Day 19 chick embryo sterna were seeded in secondary monolayer cultures and treated either with a high dose (100 n M) or with physiological doses (10–35 n M) of RA for up to 3 days. We found that after an initial lag of about 24 h, physiological doses of RA indeed induced type X collagen gene expression in the immature cells. This induction was not accompanied by obvious changes in expression of the type II collagen and large aggregating proteoglycan core protein genes. As revealed by immunocytochemistry, 30–35% of the cells in cultures treated with RA for 3 days were engaged in type X collagen production. Interestingly, these cells were relatively similar in size to chondrocytes in which no type X collagen was detected, suggesting that chondrocytes can initiate type X collagen production independent of cell hypertrophy. RA treatment also led to increased alkaline phosphatase activity occurring as early as 24 h after the start of treatment. The data in this study indicate that RA may have a role in endochondral ossification as an inducer/promoter of maturation-associated traits during chondrocyte maturation.

Distribution of type X collagen in tibiotarsi of broiler chickens with vitamin D deficiency

Type X collagen is a significant component of the extracellular matrix of the hypertrophic zone of physeal cartilage, but its precise role in endochondral ossification has not been determined. The concentration of type X collagen increases in physeal cartilage in chicks with vitamin D deficiency. The purpose of our study was to determine whether defective endochondral ossification due to vitamin D deficiency was associated with abnormalities in the distribution of type X collagen in the proximal tibiotarsus of chicks. To accomplish this, we induced vitamin D deficiency in broiler chicks and sequentially evaluated the pattern of type X collagen immunoreactivity in the proximal tibiotarsus using a monoclonal antibody specific for chicken type X collagen. Type X collagen immunoreactivity was present in the matrix of the prehypertrophic zone, hypertrophic zone, cartilage cores of the primary spongiosa, and within the chondrocytes of the prehypertrophic and early hypertrophic zones in vitamin D-deficient and D-replete chicks. However, rachitic chicks exhibited two consistent differences in type X collagen immunoreactivity: hypertrophic chondrocytes in the late hypertrophic zone and primary spongiosa contained intracellular type X collagen; and type X collagen was concentrated into laminated aggregates in the pericellular and territorial matrices in the late hypertrophic zone and primary spongiosa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)