title: Novel type II collagen reporter mice: New tool for assessing collagen 2α1 expression in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: We report the generation of a new mouse strain harboring a Col2-pd2EGFP reporter transgene; pd2EGFP has a much shorter half-life than EGFP, making it a near real-time reporter for Col2α1 expression in vivo and in vitro. In the post-natal growth plate, pd2EGFP fluorescence was expressed in almost all proliferative chondrocytes and in some hypertrophic chondrocytes based on localization with type X collagen. In articular cartilage, pd2EGFP fluorescence diminished over time, nicely illustrating the decrease of type II collagen synthesis in articular chondrocytes during growth. Monolayers of FACS-sorted chondrocytes from P1-2 mice showed faster loss of pd2EGFP compared to EGFP, reflecting rapid chondrocyte de-differentiation. High-density culture of FACS-pd2EGFP- growth plate chondrocytes revealed the typical temporal expression pattern in which type II collagen preceded type X collagen matrix deposition. The Col2-pd2EGFP reporter mouse will be a valuable tool for studies of growth plate chondrocyte biology.
authors.forename: Marianna A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tryfonidou
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Lunstrum
authors.forename: Kristyanne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Riemers
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wubbolts
authors.forename: H A W
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hazewinkel
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Degnin
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Horton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II