Expression of cartilage-related genes in bovine synovial tissue.
The synovium contains mesenchymal stem cells with chondrogenic potential. Although synovial and articular cartilage tissue develop from a common pool of mesenchymal cells, little is known about their genetic commonalities. In the present study, the mRNA levels for several cartilage-related proteins, namely, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen types I, II, IX, X, and XI, were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our data reveal the synovium of calf metacarpal joints to physiologically express not only type I collagen but also COMP, Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen types X and XI. The mRNA levels for the latter five proteins lie between 2% and 15% of those in articular cartilage. We speculate that these genes are being expressed by chondroprogenitor cells, whose presence in the synovium reflects a common ontogenetic phase in the fetal development of this tissue and of articular cartilage.
Shintani
Nahoko
N
ITI Research Institute for Dental and Skeletal Biology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Kurth
Tobias
T
Hunziker
Ernst B
EB
D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics; D024081:Collagen Type IX / Q000235:genetics; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000235:genetics; D024161:Collagen Type XI / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D053674:Aggrecans; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024043:Collagen Type II; D024081:Collagen Type IX; D024121:Collagen Type X; D024161:Collagen Type XI; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D064235:Matrilin Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors