title: Regulation of chondrocyte differentiation by ADAMTS-12 metalloproteinase depends on its enzymatic activity.
abstract: ADAMTS-12, a metalloproteinase that belongs to ADAMTS family, is strongly upregulated during chondrogenesis and demonstrates prominent expression in the growth plate chondrocytes. ADAMTS-12 potently inhibits chondrocyte differentiation, as revealed by altered expression of both early and later genes critical for chondrogenesis. In addition, ADAMTS-12-mediated inhibition of chondrogenesis depends on its enzymatic activity, since its point mutant lacking enzymatic activity completely loses this activity. Furthermore, the C-terminal four thrombospondin motifs known to bind COMP substrate is necessary for its full proteolytic activity and inhibition of chondrocyte differentiation. Mechanism studies demonstrate that ADAMTS-12 induces PTHrP, whereas it inhibits IHH during chondrogenesis. Furthermore, PTHrP induces ADAMTS-12 and ADAMTS-12 is hardly detectable in PTHrP-/-growth plate chondrocytes. Importantly, knocking down ADAMTS-12 mRNA levels or blocking ADAMTS-12 activity almost abolishes the PTHrP-mediated inhibition of type X collagen expression. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ADAMTS-12, a downstream molecule of PTHrP signaling, is a novel regulator of chondrogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: X H
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luan
authors.forename: X P
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071096:ADAMTS Proteins; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D024121:Collagen Type X; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071096:ADAMTS Proteins; C496252:ADAMTS12 protein, human