title: Discoordinate gene expression of aggrecan and type II collagen in experimental osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the gene expression of aggrecan core protein and type II collagen in an experimental animal model of osteoarthritis (OA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Total RNA was extracted from the articular cartilage of unoperated knee joints and from OA joints produced by anterior cruciate ligament transection. The relative amounts of type II collagen and aggrecan core protein messenger RNA (mRNA) were evaluated by Northern blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total RNA was elevated 2.5 times, aggrecan mRNA was elevated 2 times, and type II collagen mRNA was elevated 8 times, in OA knees compared to unoperated controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chondrocytes are activated metabolically in response to joint injury. Discoordinate gene expression of aggrecan and type II collagen is characteristic of early experimental OA, and we speculate that it may contribute to its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary Health Sciences Centre, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Matyas
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Sandell
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry*; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics*; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004285:Dogs; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA