title: Experimental chondrocyte hypertrophy is promoted by the activation of discoidin domain receptor 2.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the association between chondrocytes and the extracellular matrix (ECM), and determine whether this contributes to osteoarthritis (OA). Chondrocyte hypertrophy was measured in articular cartilage samples from early-stage OA patients. In addition, rat chondrocytes were cultured and divided into four groups (A to D): Group A was an untreated control group, group B was incubated with chicken collagen II, group C was transfected with the discoidin domain of discoidin domain receptor-2 (DDR2) and group D was transfected with full‑length DDR2. The expression levels of DDR2 and hypertrophic markers in each group were then measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analyses. Chondrocyte hypertrophy was identified in samples of early‑stage OA patients. In rat chondrocyte cultures, the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of hypertrophic markers were determined as: Group D > B > C > A. In conclusion, transfection with DDR2 induced the expression of hypertrophic markers, as assessed by qPCR and western blot analyses. DDR2 therefore promoted chondrocyte hypertrophy and terminal differentiation.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sihan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rongheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zheming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000235:genetics; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D024043:Collagen Type II; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D000070818:Discoidin Domain Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13