Expression of matrilins during maturation of mouse skeletal tissues.
The matrilins are a recently discovered family of non-collagenous extracellular matrix proteins. During embryogenesis, all matrilins are expressed in skeletal tissues. Additionally, matrilin-2 and -4 are expressed in the dermis and in connective tissues of internal organs, e.g. of the lung and kidney. After birth, the expression of matrilin-1 and -3 remains specific for cartilage and bone whereas matrilin-2 and -4 display a broader tissue distribution and could be detected in epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissue as well as in loose and dense connective tissue. In epiphyseal cartilage of growing long bones, matrilin-1 and -3 are present in all cartilage regions, in contrast to matrilin-2, which is expressed in the proliferative and the upper hypertrophic zones. Similarly matrilin-4 was detected all over the epiphyseal cartilage, with the weakest expression in the hypertrophic zone. Although it was shown that matrilin-1 and -3 can form hetero-oligomers and are often co-localized in tissue, clear differences in their spatial distribution could be demonstrated by double-immunolabelling. During joint development matrilin-2 and matrilin-4 are present at the developing joint surface, while in articular cartilage of 6-week-old mice all matrilins are only weakly expressed.
Klatt
Andreas R
AR
Institute for Biochemistry II, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 52, D-50931 Cologne, Germany.
Paulsson
Mats
M
Wagener
Raimund
R
D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007596:Joints / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D051379:Mice; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013249:Sternum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013623:Tail / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; C577540:Matn1 protein, mouse; C577542:Matn2 protein, mouse; C577546:Matn3 protein, mouse; C577547:Matn4 protein, mouse; D064235:Matrilin Proteins