Mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations in articular chondrocytes of cartilage affected by osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the changes of mitochondrion DNA (mtDNA) sequence in articular chondrocytes of cartilage affected by osteoarthritis and to clarified the pathogenetic mechanism of osteoarthritis.


METHODS
We analyzed the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion mutations of articular chondrocytes in 10 patients with osteoarthritis and 3 normal cartilages using the gap-PCR amplification method. We designed a two round PCR detection method, in which total DNA was isolated from articular chondrocytes as the template of the first round PCR reaction and products from the first round were the template in the second round reaction.


RESULTS
The results of the first rounds of PCR reaction showed the mtDNA 524 bp amplified products in the osteoarthritis group and in the corresponding peripheral blood samples were not detected, but the 533 bp products were detected. However,the results of the second round reaction revealed that the 524 bp zones were detected in 2 of the 10 osteoarthritis patients and the corresponding peripheral blood samples were not detected. The 533 bp products were detected in all specimens. The mtDNA 524 bp amplified products in all the normal articular chondrocytes and the corresponding peripheral white blood cells contrast were not detected in both rounds PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
This was the first study to evaluate the mtDNA 4799 bp large fragment deletion mutational accumulation between nt8,470 - nt13,447 of articular chondrocytes in osteoarthritic cartilage. Osteoarthritis may be related to mtDNA mutation of articular chondrocytes.
Lü
Hong-bin
HB
Department of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Zhou
Yun
Y
Hu
Jian-zhong
JZ
Lei
Guang-hua
GH
Zhu
Min
M
Li
Kang-hua
KH
D000328:Adult; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics*; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000235:genetics; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial