title: Expression profiling and functional implications of a set of zinc finger proteins, ZNF423, ZNF470, ZNF521, and ZNF780B, in primary osteoarthritic articular chondrocytes.
abstract: Articular chondrocytes are responsible for the maintenance of healthy articulations; indeed, dysregulation of their functions, including the production of matrix proteins and matrix-remodeling proteases, may result in fraying of the tissue and development of osteoarthritis (OA). To explore transcriptional mechanisms that contribute to the regulation of chondrocyte homeostasis and may be implicated in OA development, we compared the gene expression profile of a set of zinc finger proteins potentially linked to the control of chondrocyte differentiation and/or functions (ZNF423, ZNF470, ZNF521, and ZNF780B) in chondrocytes from patients affected by OA and from subjects not affected by OA. This analysis highlighted a significantly lower expression of the transcript encoding ZNF423 in chondrocytes from OA, particularly in elderly patients. Interestingly, this decrease was mirrored by the similarly reduced expression of PPARγ, a known target of ZNF423 with anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties. The ZNF521 mRNA instead was abundant in all primary chondrocytes studied; the RNAi-mediated silencing of this gene significantly altered the COL2A/COL1 expression ratio, associated with the maintenance of the differentiated phenotype, in chondrocytes cultivated in alginate beads. These results suggest a role for ZNF423 and ZNF521 in the regulation of chondrocyte homeostasis and warrant further investigations to elucidate their mechanism of action.
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Mesuraca
authors: Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Olimpio
authors: O
authors: Galasso
authors: Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Guido
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Chiarella
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Scicchitano
authors: Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Renaud
authors: R
authors: Vatrinet
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Morrone
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Heather M
authors: HM
authors: Bond
authors: Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Græcia, University Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; C085969:MZF1 protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C491132:ZNF470 protein, human; C529598:zinc finger protein 521, human