Effects of hypoxia on anabolic and catabolic gene expression and DNA methylation in OA chondrocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cartilage is an avascular and aneural tissue. Chondrocytes thrive in this restricted environment of low oxygen tension and poor nutrient availability which has led to suggestions that hypoxia may be a protective mechanism against the development of osteoarthritis (OA). There is also a growing body of evidence to support the role of epigenetic factors in the pathogenesis of OA. However, few studies have investigated the epigenetic-OA process within a hypoxic environment. The current study has investigated the effects of hypoxia on gene expression and DNA methylation of anabolic and catabolic genes involved in the pathogenesis of OA.

Methods

Chondrocytes extracted from OA femoral heads were incubated in normoxia and hypoxia (20% and 2% oxygen concentrations respecti

SUBMITTER: Alvarez K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4301830 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature