title: The distribution of Notch receptors and their ligands during articular cartilage development.
abstract: We examined the distribution of Notch family members and their ligands during the development of articular cartilage and the growth plate. Notch 1 was expressed by the chondrocytes of the developing articular surface but became increasingly restricted to the deeper layers after birth whilst expression of this family member was restricted to hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. Notch 2 and 4, Delta and Jagged 2 showed a broadly similar distribution, being present throughout the articular cartilage during development and becoming increasingly restricted to deeper layers with age. Hypertrophic chondrocytes within the growth plate also expressed Notch 2 and 4, Delta and Jagged 2 (which was also expressed in prehypertrophs). Notch 3 and Jagged 1 were absent from developing articular cartilage but were present in deeper layers at later time points (> 1 month) and both receptor and ligand were expressed in hypertrophic chondrocytes at all ages examined. These results highlight the complex Notch signalling interactions that result in the formation of the heterogeneous articular cartilage and allow for the co-ordinated ossification and elongation of the growth plate. Mechanisms by which these processes are controlled are discussed in light of recent advances in the understanding of Notch signalling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, PO Box 911 Museum Avenue, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Dowthwaite
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Archer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D006614:Hindlimb; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C490504:JAG2 protein, human; C490503:Jag2 protein, mouse; D000072101:Jagged-2 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C106075:NOTCH4 protein, human; C497762:Notch1 protein, mouse; C497765:Notch2 protein, mouse; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; C064045:delta protein; C073572:Notch4 protein, mouse