Open AccessExpression and modulation of ghrelin O ‐acyltransferase in cultured chondrocytes
Author(s) -
Gómez Rodolfo,
Lago Francisca,
GómezReino Juan J.,
Dieguez Carlos,
Gualillo Oreste
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.24522
Subject(s) - chondrocyte , ghrelin , messenger rna , chondrogenesis , biology , endocrinology , medicine , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , real time polymerase chain reaction , in vitro , chemistry , mesenchymal stem cell , hormone , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Objective To use reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction to detect ghrelin O ‐acyltransferase (GOAT) transcripts in both murine and human chondrocytes, to evaluate the effect of pharmacologic in vitro treatments with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), growth hormone, ghrelin, and dexamethasone on GOAT messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, and to study the GOAT mRNA profile during chondrocyte differentiation. Methods Murine and human GOAT and ghrelin mRNA levels were determined by the SYBR Green–based quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction method. Results GOAT mRNA was expressed in murine cartilage explants as well as in the cultured murine chondrogenic ATDC‐5 cell line. GOAT was also expressed in human immortalized chondrocyte cell lines and in human cultured primary chondrocytes. In addition, GOAT mRNA expression in differentiating ATDC‐5 cells was lower at the early stage of differentiation (days 3–7), whereas GOAT mRNA levels increased progressively at the late stages. Finally, among the drugs and hormones tested, only LPS was able to strongly decrease GOAT mRNA expression. Conclusion These data indicate that chondrocytes are equipped with biochemical machinery for the synthesis of acylated ghrelin and suggest a novel role of the ghrelin axis in prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation during endochondral ossification.