title: The expression of osteoprotegerin is required for maintaining the intervertebral disc endplate of aged mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human chondrocytes and annulus fibrosus cells of intervertebral disc (IVD) express osteoprotegerin (OPG), but the effect of OPG on the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration remains unknown. Here we assessed the phenotype change of IVD in OPG(-/-) mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IVDs from 12-, 20-, and 28-week-old OPG(-/-) mice and WT controls were subjected to histologic analyses including TRAP staining for osteoclasts, immunostaining for OPG and type I collagen protein expression, and TUNEL staining for apoptosis. The IVD tissues were also subjected to real time RT-PCR for mRNA expression of genes for osteoblast-osterix, ALP, and osteocalcin; for osteoclasts-trap, rank, mmp9 and cathepsin K, and for chondrocytes-aggrecan, mmp13 and Col10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OPG protein expresses at the cells of endplate cartilage and annulus fibrosis in IVDs of WT mice. Compared to WT mice, OPG(-/-) mice developed aging related cartilage loss and bony tissue appearance at the endplate. Stating from 20 weeks of age, IVDs from OPG(-/-) mice expressed significantly increased mmp13 and Col10 levels, which is associated with increased osteoblast number and elevated expression of osteoblast marker genes. Furthermore, TRAP+ osteoclasts were presented in the endplate cartilage of OPG(-/-) mice. These osteoclasts localized adjacently to and erosion into the cartilage. Increased expression of RANK, mmp9 and cathepsin k was detected in OPG(-/-) IVDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OPG at IVD plays an important role for maintaining the integrity of endplate cartilage during aging by preventing endplate cartilage from osteoclast-mediated resorption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Longhua Hospital, ShangHai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, PR China.
authors.forename: Qian-Qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lianping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Shao-Dan
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Dao-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Le-Qin
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: De-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Zhi-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Chongjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002356:Cartilage / Q000502:physiology; D017931:DNA Primers; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D012333:RNA, Messenger