Project description:Cells from the superficial (AACS), middle (AACM) and deep (AACD) adult articular cartilage zones and the intermediate (II) and outer (OI) interzone layers and the transient embryonic cartilage of the long bone anlagen (EC) at gestational day 40 were separately collected using laser capture microdissection and microarray analysis was performed to confirm appropriate layer selection.
Project description:Nascent embryonic joints, interzones, contain a distinct cohort of progenitor cells responsible for the formation of the majority of articular tissues. However, to date the interzone has largely been studied using in situ analysis for candidate genes in the context of the embryo rather than using an unbiased genome wide expression analysis on isolated interzone cells, leaving significant controversy regarding the exact role of the intermediate and outer interzone layers in joint formation. Therefore, in this study, using laser capture microdissection (three biological replicates), we selectively harvested the intermediate and outer interzones of mouse embryos at gestational age 15.5 days, just prior to cavitation, when the differences between the layers should be most profound. Microarray analysis (Agilent Whole Mouse Genome Oligo Microarrays) was performed and the differential gene expression between the intermediate interzone cells and outer interzone cells was examined by performing a 2-sided paired student t-test and pathway analysis. 197 genes were differentially expressed (M-bM-^IM-% 2-fold) between the intermediate interzone and the outer interzone with a p-value M-bM-^IM-$ 0.01. Of these, 91 genes showed higher expression levels in the intermediate interzone and 106 were expressed higher in the outer interzone. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes suggests an important role for inflammatory processes in the interzone layers, especially in the intermediate interzone, and hence in joint and articular cartilage development. The high representation of genes relevant to chondrocyte hypertrophy and endochondral ossification in the outer interzone suggests that it undergoes endochondral ossification. 2 study groups (intermediate and outer interzone) with three biological replicates (1 biological replicate = 1 embryo)
Project description:We used laser capture microdissection to isolate different zones of the articular cartilage from proximal tibiae of 1-week old mice, and used microarray to analyze global gene expression. Bioinformatic analysis corroborated previously known signaling pathways, such as Wnt and Bmp signaling, and implicated novel pathways, such as ephrin and integrin signaling, for spatially associated articular chondrocyte differentiation and proliferation. In addition, comparison of the spatial regulation of articular and growth plate cartilage revealed unexpected similarities between the superficial zone of the articular cartilage and the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate. Collecte five biological replications in three superficial, mid zone and deep zones of Articular Cartilage Assessed by Laser Captured Microdissection and Microarray(Superficial Zone vs Mid Zone vs Deep Zone)