Consequences of Reduced Versican Expression in Embryonic Chick Synovial Joint Development

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Partha Sarathi Nagchowdhuri (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Advisor

Anthony A. Capehart

Abstract: The different mechanisms involved in vertebrate synovial joint development are actively being uncovered. A variety of studies have thus far discovered the involvement of several large molecules in the processes of joint development and cavitation. Such molecules include glycosaminoglycans glycoproteins proteoglycans growth factors and adhesive molecules. The coordinated spatiotemporal expressions of these molecules among them chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG) are believed to play a crucial role in synovial joint formation. A previous study has shown that isoforms of the CSPG versican are abundantly expressed in the developing chick synovial joint during progressive stages of embryonic development (Shepard et al. 2007). The purpose of this study is to better understand the importance of versican in the developing limb joints by inhibiting its expression. We employed adenoviral-mediated RNA interference and inovo microinjection techniques to knock down endogenous versican protein levels. Results show an average reduction of 14% in the non-chondrogenic space of the joint interzone of day 10 embryos in response to versican knockdown that was coupled with attenuated expressions of key versican associating molecules such as hyaluronan tenascin CD44 and link protein. Impacts of versican knockdown also resulted in lowered collagen II expression among articular chondrocytes implying possible delays in chondrogenesis or early transition toward an osteogenic fate. 

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Date: 2012

Keywords

Molecular biology

Subjects

Proteoglycans

Joints

Chondrogenesis

Embryology

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