title: Regulation of type II collagen synthesis during osteoarthritis by prolyl-4-hydroxylases: possible influence of low oxygen levels.
abstract: Osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes are metabolically active, displaying increased synthesis of type II collagen. Here, we show by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction that in comparison with healthy cartilage, OA articular chondrocytes exhibit increased in vivo synthesis of collagen prolyl-4-hydroxylase type II, a pivotal enzyme in collagen triple helix formation. Exposure of primary human articular chondrocytes to 1% oxygen enhanced accumulation of native type II collagen and stabilized hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha). This effect was abolished by addition of the HIF-1 inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses of mRNAs from these cultures revealed increased transcript levels of both alpha-subunits of prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4HA1, approximately 2-fold; P4HA2, approximately 2.3-fold) and of classical HIF-1 target genes (glucosetransporter-1, approximately 2.1-fold; phosphoglyceratekinase-1, approximately 2.2-fold). Treatment of hypoxic chondrocytes with 2-methoxyestradiol reduced transcriptional activity of HIF-1 and synthesis of alpha(II), and to a lesser extent alpha(I), subunits of collagen prolyl-4-hydroxylases. mRNA levels of type II collagen (Col2A1) and the beta-subunit (P4HB) of prolyl-4-hydroxylase, however, displayed only modest changes at 1% oxygen. From these results and our in vivo data, we inferred that besides increased Col2A1 mRNA expression by OA chondrocytes, accelerated posttranslational modification processes might contribute to the increased synthesis and accumulation of type II collagen during OA and experimental hypoxia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Rheumatology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery im Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Rathsbergerstrasse 57, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimmer
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balbus
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swoboda
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pfander
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000201:enzymology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D064828:Prolyl Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C000591164:P4HA2 protein, human; D064828:Prolyl Hydroxylases; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase; D010100:Oxygen