Doublecortin may play a role in defining chondrocyte phenotype.
Embryonic development of articular cartilage has not been well understood and the role of doublecortin (DCX) in determination of chondrocyte phenotype is unknown. Here, we use a DCX promoter-driven eGFP reporter mouse model to study the dynamic gene expression profiles in mouse embryonic handplates at E12.5 to E13.5 when the condensed mesenchymal cells differentiate into either endochondral chondrocytes or joint interzone cells. Illumina microarray analysis identified a variety of genes that were expressed differentially in the different regions of mouse handplate. The unique expression patterns of many genes were revealed. Cytl1 and 3110032G18RIK were highly expressed in the proximal region of E12.5 handplate and the carpal region of E13.5 handplate, whereas Olfr538, Kctd15, and Cited1 were highly expressed in the distal region of E12.5 and the metacarpal region of E13.5 handplates. There was an increasing gradient of Hrc expression in the proximal to distal direction in E13.5 handplate. Furthermore, when human DCX protein was expressed in human adipose stem cells, collagen II was decreased while aggrecan, matrilin 2, and GDF5 were increased during the 14-day pellet culture. These findings suggest that DCX may play a role in defining chondrocyte phenotype.
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. gedongx@gmail.com.
Dongxia
D
Ge
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. qzhang3@tulane.edu.
Qing-Song
QS
Zhang
Department of Pediatrics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. jzabal@lsuhsc.edu.
Jovanny
J
Zabaleta
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. qzhang3@tulane.edu.
Qiuyang
Q
Zhang
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. senliu@yahoo.com.
Sen
S
Liu
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. brendan.reiser@gmail.com.
Brendan
B
Reiser
Department of Pharmacology, Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine and Division of Regenerative Medicine of Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. bbunnell@tulane.edu.
Bruce A
BA
Bunnell
Department of Pharmacology, Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine and Division of Regenerative Medicine of Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. sbraun@tulane.edu.
Stephen E
SE
Braun
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. michaelobrien76@gmail.com.
Michael J
MJ
O'Brien
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. fsavoie@tulane.edu.
Felix H
FH
Savoie
Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane Cancer Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium, Tulane Center for Aging and Tulane Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. zyou@tulane.edu.
Zongbing
Z
You
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D059467:Transcriptome
C000714328:DCX protein, human; C000714847:Dcx protein, mouse; D000089622:Doublecortin Domain Proteins; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins