Perlecan, the multidomain HS-proteoglycan of basement membranes, is a prominent pericellular component of ovine hypertrophic vertebral growth plate and cartilaginous endplate chondrocytes.
The aim of this study was to immunolocalise perlecan in ovine vertebral growth plate (VGP) and cartilaginous endplate (CEP) cartilages using a monoclonal antibody (MAb A76) directed to a core protein epitope in perlecan domain-I, and to compare and contrast its localisation patterns with known cartilage matrix components. Perlecan was a prominent pericellular component of mature hypertrophic chondrocytes in the VGP and CEP in newborn 2- to 5-day-old sheep. Type I, II, VI and X collagen, chondroitin-4 and 6-sulphate, 7-D-4 chondroitin sulphate isomer proteoglycan epitope, keratan sulphate, aggrecan core protein, hyaluronan (HA) and hyaluronan binding proteins (HABPs) each had distinct localisation patterns in the VGP and CEP. Type X collagen was a prominent component of the VGP but was undetectable in the CEP. Aggrecan was strongly localised extracellularly throughout the VGP and CEP but increased cell-associated staining was also evident. In contrast to the aforementioned matrix components, HA, HABPs and perlecan were localised strongly to the pericellular matrices of the hypertrophic VGP and CEP chondrocytes apparently indicating an important role for these components in terminal chondrocyte differentiation.
Melrose
James
J
The Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The University of Sydney, Department of Surgery, The University Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia. jmelrose@mail.usyd.edu.au
Smith
Susan
S
Knox
Sarah
S
Whitelock
John
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000378:metabolism*; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; C071927:perlecan; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid