Loss of Vhl in cartilage accelerated the progression of age-associated and surgically induced murine osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the role of Vhl in maintaining the integrity of articular cartilage and in the development of experimental osteoarthritis (OA).

Method

Histology of articular cartilage and subchondral bone in both Vhl cKO and WT mice were analyzed by histopathology and micro-CT. Articular cartilage destruction and proteoglycan loss were scored in aged (12-month-old) mice as well as in mice with surgically induced OA. Apoptosis of cartilage in age-related and surgically induced OA was detected with TUNEL assay. Expressions of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), Fas, LC-3, HIF-1α, HIF-2α, p-mTOR and MMP-13 in the knee joints were analyzed by immunostaining.

Results

No gross differences in cartilage were observed between Vhl cKO and WT mice at age 4 months. However, Vhl cKO

SUBMITTER: Weng T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4150692 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature