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Ablation of low‐molecular‐weight FGF2 isoform accelerates murine osteoarthritis while loss of high‐molecular‐weight FGF2 isoforms offers protection
Author(s) -
Burt Patience M.,
Xiao Liping,
Doetschman Thomas,
Hurley Marja M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.27230
Subject(s) - fibroblast growth factor , gene isoform , osteoarthritis , endocrinology , medicine , growth factor , cartilage , fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 , context (archaeology) , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , gene , biochemistry , pathology , receptor , anatomy , paleontology , alternative medicine
FGF2 is an essential growth factor implicated in osteoarthritis (OA), and deletion of full‐length FGF2 ( Fgf2 ALLKO ) leads to murine OA. However, the FGF2 gene encodes both high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) and low‐molecular‐weight (LMW) isoforms, and the effects of selectively ablating individual isoforms, as opposed to total FGF2, has not been investigated in the context of OA. We undertook this study to examine whether mice lacking HMW FGF2 ( Fgf2 HMWKO ) or LMW FGF2 ( Fgf2 LMWKO ) develop OA and to further characterize the observed OA phenotype in Fgf2 ALLKO mice. Fgf2 HMWKO mice never developed OA, but 6‐ and 9‐month‐old Fgf2 LMWKO and Fgf2 ALLKO mice displayed signs of OA, including eroded articular cartilage, altered subchondral bone and trabecular architecture, and increased OA marker enzyme levels. Even with mechanical induction of OA, Fgf2 HMWKO mice were protected against OA, whereas Fgf2 LMWKO and Fgf2 ALLKO displayed OA‐like changes of the subchondral bone. Before exhibiting OA symptoms, Fgf2 LMWKO or Fgf2 ALLKO joints displayed differential expression of genes encoding key regulatory proteins, including interleukin‐1β, insulin‐like growth factor 1, bone morphogenetic protein 4, hypoxia‐inducible factor 1, B‐cell lymphoma 2, Bcl2‐associated X protein, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5, ETS domain‐containing protein, and sex‐determining region Y box 9. Moreover, Fgf2 LMWKO OA cartilage exhibited increased FGF2, FGF23, and FGFR1 expression, whereas Fgf2 HMWKO cartilage had increased levels of FGFR3, which promotes anabolism in cartilage. These results demonstrate that loss of LMW FGF2 results in catabolic activity in joint cartilage, whereas absence of HMW FGF2 with only the presence of LMW FGF2 offers protection from OA.