Jochen Haag1, Pia Margarethe Gebhard1, Thomas Aigner1
1Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Tóm tắt
<i>Objective:</i> While the developmental role of the SOX transcription factors in fetal chondrocyte differentiation is well documented, much less is known about the expression of SOX family members in normal and osteoarthritic adult cartilage. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to present a thorough analysis of <i>SOX</i> gene expression in normal and osteoarthritic human adult cartilage. <i>Methods:</i> RNA from normal and osteoarthritic knee cartilage from human adults was analyzed by gene expression profiling using GeneChip technology (Affymetrix) and quantitative real time PCR. <i>Results:</i> Most members of the SOX transcription factor family showed no or very low expression levels in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage from adults. In contrast, <i>SOX9</i> expression was fairly high in normal cartilage, amounting to approximately 20% of GAPDH levels. <i>SOX9</i> transcript levels were substantially reduced in osteoarthritis. <i>SOX6</i> levels were reduced, albeit starting from a low basis expression in normal tissue. <i>Conclusion:</i> The presented data indicate that the role of the SOX transcription factor family in adult human cartilage is most probably restricted to a few members, with SOX9 being the most prominent. Furthermore, the reduction of <i>SOX9</i> and <i>SOX6</i> transcript levels in osteoarthritic chondrocytes might be responsible for the loss of phenotypic stability of osteoarthritic chondrocytes.