Abstract
The synovium contains mesenchymal stem cells with chondrogenic potential. Although synovial and articular cartilage tissue develop from a common pool of mesenchymal cells, little is known about their genetic commonalities. In the present study, the mRNA levels for several cartilage-related proteins, namely, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen types I, II, IX, X, and XI, were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our data reveal the synovium of calf metacarpal joints to physiologically express not only type I collagen but also COMP, Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen types X and XI. The mRNA levels for the latter five proteins lie between 2% and 15% of those in articular cartilage. We speculate that these genes are being expressed by chondroprogenitor cells, whose presence in the synovium reflects a common ontogenetic phase in the fetal development of this tissue and of articular cartilage.
(c) 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Aggrecans / genetics
-
Animals
-
Cartilage, Articular / cytology
-
Cartilage, Articular / physiology*
-
Cattle
-
Chondrocytes / cytology
-
Chondrocytes / physiology
-
Collagen Type I / genetics
-
Collagen Type II / genetics
-
Collagen Type IX / genetics
-
Collagen Type X / genetics
-
Collagen Type XI / genetics
-
Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics*
-
Gene Expression Profiling*
-
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
-
Glycoproteins / genetics
-
High Mobility Group Proteins / genetics
-
Matrilin Proteins
-
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
-
Mesenchymal Stem Cells / physiology*
-
Polymerase Chain Reaction
-
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
-
SOX9 Transcription Factor
-
Synovial Membrane / cytology
-
Synovial Membrane / physiology*
-
Transcription Factors / genetics
Substances
-
Aggrecans
-
Collagen Type I
-
Collagen Type II
-
Collagen Type IX
-
Collagen Type X
-
Collagen Type XI
-
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
-
Glycoproteins
-
High Mobility Group Proteins
-
Matrilin Proteins
-
RNA, Messenger
-
SOX9 Transcription Factor
-
Transcription Factors