Transcription factor Nfat1 deficiency causes osteoarthritis through dysfunction of adult articular chondrocytes.

ABSTRACT: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease in middle-aged and older individuals. Previous studies have shown that over-expression of matrix-degrading proteinases and proinflammatory cytokines is associated with osteoarthritic cartilage degradation. However, it remains unclear which transcription factors regulate the expression of these cartilage-degrading molecules in articular chondrocytes. This study demonstrated that mice lacking Nfat1, a member of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors, exhibited normal skeletal development but displayed loss of type II collagen (collagen-2) and aggrecan with over-expression of specific matrix-degrading proteinases and proinflammatory cytokines in young adult articular cartilage of load-bearing joints. Th

SUBMITTER: Wang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2975457 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature