Analysis of meniscal degeneration and meniscal gene expression

1471-2474-11-19 1471-2474 Research article Analysis of meniscal degeneration and meniscal gene expression SunYuboyubo.sun@carolinas.org MauerhanRDaviddavid.mauerhan@carolinas.org HoneycuttRPatrickpatrick.honeycutt@carolinas.org KneislSJeffreyjeffrey.kneisl@carolinas.org NortonHJamesjames.norton@carolinas.org HanleyNEdwardJredward.hanley@carolinas.org GruberEHelenhelen.gruber@carolinas.org

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, PO Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232, USA

Department of Biostatistics, Carolinas Medical Center, PO Box 32861, Charlotte, NC 28232, USA

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1471-2474 2010 11 1 19 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/11/19 10.1186/1471-2474-11-1920109188 2682009281201028120102010Sun et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

Menisci play a vital role in load transmission, shock absorption and joint stability. There is increasing evidence suggesting that OA menisci may not merely be bystanders in the disease process of OA. This study sought: 1) to determine the prevalence of meniscal degeneration in OA patients, and 2) to examine gene expression in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells.

Methods

Studies were approved by our human subjects Institutional Review Board. Menisci and articular cartilage were collected during joint replacement surgery for OA patients and lower limb amputation surgery for osteosarcoma patients (normal control specimens), and graded. Meniscal cells were prepared from these meniscal tissues and expanded in monolayer culture. Differential gene expression in OA meniscal cells and normal meniscal cells was examined using Affymetrix microarray and real time RT-PCR.

Results

The grades of meniscal degeneration correlated with the grades of articular cartilage degeneration (r = 0.672; P < 0.0001). Many of the genes classified in the biological processes of immune response, inflammatory response, biomineral formation and cell proliferation, including major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha 1 (HLA-DPA1), integrin, beta 2 (ITGB2), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), ankylosis, progressive homolog (ANKH) and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), were expressed at significantly higher levels in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells. Importantly, many of the genes that have been shown to be differentially expressed in other OA cell types/tissues, including ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 (ADAMTS5) and prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), were found to be expressed at significantly higher levels in OA meniscal cells. This consistency suggests that many of the genes detected in our study are disease-specific.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that OA is a whole joint disease. Meniscal cells may play an active role in the development of OA. Investigation of the gene expression profiles of OA meniscal cells may reveal new therapeutic targets for OA therapy and also may uncover novel disease markers for early diagnosis of OA.

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage and the formation of osteophytes. However, it has been gradually realized that OA is not merely an articular cartilage disease, but a disease of the whole joint 12. OA synovial membrane and subchondral bone have drawn considerably attention recently. Aberrant gene expression in OA synovium, OA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and OA subchondral bone has been detected 3456. These findings suggest that OA synoviocytes and subchondral bone cells may be involved in the disease process of OA.

Few studies have investigated the potential role of OA meniscal cells in the disease process of OA. The knee menisci are specialized tissues that play a vital role in load transmission, shock absorption and joint stability. Knee menisci may absorb most of the shock generated at the joint because their combined mass is greater than that of the articular cartilage. The current dogma is that menisci protect the articular cartilage, but play a minimal role in the disease process of OA unless they are injured. However, increasing evidence suggests that knee menisci may not be passive bystanders in the disease process of OA. It has been reported that meniscal degeneration is a feature of OA knee joints as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging 78. There is a strong association between meniscal damage/degenerative tears and cartilage loss 9. In addition, it has been found that meniscal degeneration contributes to joint space narrowing 10. Taken together, these findings and observations suggest that pathological changes and extracellular matrix degeneration also occur in OA menisci. OA menisci, similar to OA synovial membrane and OA subchondral bone, may play an active role in the disease process of OA.

In the present study, we examined the prevalence of meniscal degeneration in OA patients who underwent joint replacement surgery, and analyzed the correlation between the degeneration of menisci and the degeneration of articular cartilage. We also examined differential gene expression between OA meniscal cells and normal meniscal cells to test the hypothesis that OA meniscal cells are different from normal meniscal cells and may display a disease-specific gene expression profile. The determination of the differential gene expression between OA and normal meniscal cells may not only provide experimental evident to support our hypothesis, but also may reveal new therapeutic targets for OA therapy and uncover novel disease markers for early diagnosis of OA.

Methods

Menisci and articular cartilage specimens

Menisci and articular cartilage specimens were collected from OA patients who underwent joint replacement surgery and from osteosarcoma patients who underwent lower limb amputation surgery with the approval of the authors' Institutional Review Board. The need for informed consent was waived since the menisci and articular cartilage were surgical waste of routine joint replacement surgery and lower limb amputation surgery, and there was no patient private information being collected. Specimens were transported to the laboratory from the operation room at our hospital in sterile tissue culture medium. The medial menisci and the medial articular cartilage of the tibia were graded (by DRM, PRH and YS) according to following scales. For the medial meniscus: 0 = normal appearing surface; 1 = minimal fibrillation and degeneration; 2 = moderate fibrillation and degeneration; 3 = severe fibrillation and degeneration, no tears; 4 = severe fibrillation and degeneration, multiple incomplete tears, or complete tears. For medial articular cartilage of the tibia: 0 = normal-appearing surface; 1 = minimal fibrillation and degeneration; 2 = erosion extending to middle layers; 3 = erosion extending into the deep layers; 4 = erosion extending to the subchondral bone, and 5 = the majority of articular cartilage completely absent.

Preparation and culture of meniscal cells

Dulbecco's modified eagle medium, fetal bovine serum, stock antibiotic and antimycotic mixture were products of Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA). Meniscal cells were isolated from meniscal specimens as previously described 11. Briefly, when meniscal specimens were arrived in sterile tissue culture medium, the central region of the medial meniscus was incised, and processed to remove fatty and synovial tissues. These meniscal specimens were then minced into small pieces (3 mm × 3 mm), and cultured in 100 mm plates at 37°C in medium containing 0.5% antibiotic/antimycotic solution and 10% serum. Every three days, medium was changed. Meniscal cells proliferated, migrated out the tissues, attached to the plate and expanded. When meniscal cells reached 80% confluence, they were replated and expanded in monolayer culture. Passage two cells were used in all studies. Meniscal cells prepared from meniscal specimens derived from osteosarcoma patients were used as normal control meniscal cells.

RNA extraction and microarrays

OA meniscal cells and normal meniscal cells (passage 2) were plated in 100 mm plates at 75% confluence. On the second day, medium containing 1% serum was added and cells were cultured for twenty-four hours. Medium (1% serum) was changed again and cells cultured for another twenty-four hours. Total RNA was extracted using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), and purified using Oligotex kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). Microarray analyses were performed using these RNA samples. For microarray analysis, double stranded DNA was synthesized from RNA samples using SuperScript double-stranded cDNA synthesis kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). The DNA product was purified using GeneChip sample cleanup module (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). cRNA was synthesized and biotin labeled using BioArray high yield RNA transcript labeling kit (Enzo Life Sciences, Farmingdale, NY). The product was purified using GeneChip sample cleanup module and subsequently chemically fragmented. The fragmented, biotinylated cRNA was hybridized to HG-U133_Plus_2 gene chip (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) using Affymetrix Fluidics Station 400. The fluorescent signal was quantified during two scans by Agilent Gene Array Scanner G2500A (Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA), and GeneChip operating Software (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA).

Real-time RT-PCR

cDNA was synthesized using TaqMan^®Reverse Transcription Reagents (Applied Biosystems, Inc., University Park, IL). Quantification of relative transcript levels for selected genes and the housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was performed using the ABI7000 Real Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems, Inc., University Park, IL). TaqMan^®Gene Expression assays were used, which contains a FAM-MGB probe for fluorescent detection. cDNA samples were amplified with an initial Taq DNA polymerase activation step at 95°C for 10 minutes, followed by 40 cycles of denaturation at 95°C for 15 seconds and annealing at 60°C for one minute. For each gene, Ct values were obtained in triplicates. Fold change was calculated 12 and the expression level of the genes of interest was normalized to GAPDH. Each real time RT-PCR experiment was repeated twice in triplicate.

Statistical Analysis

The Spearman's correlations between the grades of meniscal degeneration and the grades of articular cartilage degeneration were calculated with SAS^®software (version 9.1). A two-tailed p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. For microarray analysis, Genesifter software (VizX Labs, Seattle, WA) was used to determine fold changes in gene expression, and gene ontologies. Statistical significance was determined using the Student t-test (p < 0.05). A correction factor for false discovery rate was applied using the Benjamini and Hochberg method 13.

Results

Degeneration of menisci in OA patients

Demographic patient features and assigned grades are presented in Table 1. All menisci had signs of degeneration. More than 80% menisci showed signs of severe degeneration (grade 4 or grade 3). Representative images of grade 4 OA menisci and grade 0 normal control menisci are shown in Figure 1. Grade 4 OA menisci displayed discolorations and an extremely rough surface. Severe degeneration and fissures/tears were apparent. In contrast, grade 0 control menisci displayed a smooth, white and glistening surface, with no any signs of degeneration.

Table 1

Demographic data and grades of articular cartilage and menisci*

Cartilage Grade

# Subjects

Mean Age ± SD

1 F

1 M

3 F, 1 M

62 ± 13

6 F, 5 M

64 ± 9

15 F, 4 M

62 ± 11

12 F, 5 M

67 ± 9

Meniscus Grade

# Subjects

Mean Age ± SD

1 F

1 M

4 F, 3 M

57 ± 12

12 F, 6 M

64 ± 9

20 F, 6 M

66 ± 9

*The first three patients are osteosarcoma patients. The rest fifty-one patients are OA patients. F, female; M, male

Figure 1

Representative photos of normal control menisci and OA menisci

Representative photos of normal control menisci and OA menisci. Control menisci (left, top to bottom) were obtained from a 39 year old female osteosarcoma patient, a 43 year old male osteosarcoma patient and a 12 year old female osteosarcoma patient underwent lower limb amputation surgery. OA menisci (right, top to bottom) were obtained from a 65 year old female OA patient, a 67 year old female OA patient and a 50 year old female OA patient.

The relationship between the grade of menisci and the grade of articular cartilage was examined. A correlation between the grade of menisci and the grade of articular cartilage was found. The Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) was 0.672 (p < 0.0001). Of the seventeen OA patients who had grade 5 (the highest grade of articular cartilage degeneration) articular cartilage, fourteen patients (82%) had grade 4 medial meniscus (the highest grade of meniscal degeneration) and three patients had grade 3 medial meniscus. Of the nineteen OA patients who had grade 4 articular cartilages, ten patients had grade 4 (58.82%) and seven had grade 3 (41.17%) medial meniscus. Only two patients had grade 2 (0.11%) medial meniscus.

Differential gene expression

Microarray analyses of the differential gene expression between OA meniscal cells prepared from menisci (grade 4) derived from five OA patients and normal meniscal cells prepared from menisci (grade 0) derived from three osteosarcoma patients were carried out as described in Methods. The row microarray data can be found in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/geo/) with the accession number #GSE19060. Table 2 presents the demographic data of the meniscal specimens which were the basis of this analysis. Of more than 50,000 transcripts examined, 505 transcripts that displayed differential gene expression (more than 1.2 fold) were identified; 149 transcripts were expressed at significantly higher levels and 356 transcripts at significantly lower levels in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells. The differentially expressed genes were classified according to gene ontology category biological process using GeneSifter software (VizX Labs, Seattle, WA). Selected genes, which fell into specific biological processes previously implicated in OA or suspected to play a role in OA, or displayed a distinct expression pattern, are listed in Table 3.

Table 2

Demographic data and grades of menisci that were used to prepare meniscal cells*

Patients

Age/Gender/Diagnosis

Grade Meniscus

39/F (osteosarcoma)

43/M (osteosarcoma)

12/F (osteosarcoma)

65/F (OA patient)

56/F (OA patient)

50/F (OA patient)

52/F (OA patient)

61/M (OA patient)

* F, female; M, male; OA, osteoarthritis

Table 3

Genes differentially expressed in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells.

Biological process

Gene Name

Gene ID

Differ

Exp

(fold)*

Description

Immune response

HLA-DPA1

M27487

5.3

Major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha 1

IFI6

NM_022873

2.0

Interferon, alpha-inducible protein 6

CFH

X04697

1.7

Complement factor H

CTSS

NM_004079

1.6

Cathepsin S

FYN

S74774

1.5

FYN oncogene related to SRC, FGR, YES

ILF2

NM_004515

-1.3

Interleukin enhancer binding factor 2, 45 kDa

PSMB9

AI375915

-1.2

Proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, beta type, 9

Inflammatory

Response

ITGB2

NM_000211

6.6

Integrin, beta 2 (complement component 3 receptor 3 and 4 subunit)

CFH

X04697

1.7

Complement factor H

BDKRB2

NM_000623

1.3

Bradykinin receptor B2

Cytokine production

SRGN

NM_002727

2.8

Serglycin

ARNT

AI768497

2.3

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator

INHBA

M13436

1.9

Inhibin, beta A

Calcium ion transport

CACNA1C

F11066

1.5

Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, L type, alpha 1C subunit

FYN

S74774

1.5

FYN oncogene related to SRC, FGR, YES

CHRNB2

NM_000748

1.4

Cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 2 (neuronal)

Biomineral formation

ENPP1

BF057080

1.7

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1

SRGN

NM_002727

2.8

Serglycin

ACVR2A

AI149508

1.5

Activin A receptor, type IIA

Cell proliferation

ITGB2

NM_000211

6.6

Integrin, beta 2 (complement component 3 receptor 3 and 4 subunit)

FGF7

NM_002009

4.1

Fibroblast growth factor 7 (keratinocyte growth factor)

ELN

AA479278

2.5

Elastin (supravalvular aortic stenosis, Williams-Beuren syndrome)

IGFBP7

NM_001553

2.4

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7

SKAP2

AB014486

2.2

Src kinase associated phosphoprotein 2

ARNT

AI768497

2.3

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator

FOXO1

NM_002015

1.5

Forkhead box O1

BCAT1

AL390172

1.5

Branched chain aminotransferase 1, cytosolic

ACVR2A

AI149508

1.5

Activin A receptor, type IIA

TCF7L2

AA664011

1.4

Transcription factor 7-like 2 (T-cell specific, HMG-box)

CHRNB2

NM_000748

1.4

Cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta 2 (neuronal)

TCFL5

NM_006602

1.2

Transcription factor-like 5 (basic helix-loop-helix)

NRP1

AA609131

-1.3

Neuropilin 1

PHB

AL560017

-1.3

Prohibitin

TBX5

NM_000192

-1.3

T-box 5

NCK2

BC000103

-1.2

NCK adaptor protein 2

PRPF19

NM_014502

-1.2

PRP19/PSO4 pre-mRNA processing factor 19 homolog (S. cerevisiae)

Integrin-mediated signaling pathway

ITGB2

NM_000211

6.6

Integrin, beta 2

ITGB8

BF513121

3.6

Integrin, beta 8

ITGA11

AF109681

1.5

integrin, alpha 11

GAB2

NM_012296

1.5

GRB2-associated binding protein 2

Skeletal system/Tissue development

DSP

NM_004415

5.2

Desmoplakin

FGF7

NM_002009

4.2

Fibroblast growth factor 7 (keratinocyte growth factor)

SRGN

NM_002727

2.8

Serglycin

INHBA

M13436

1.9

Inhibin, beta A

TIMP3

AW338933

1.7

TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 3

ENPP1

BF057080

1.7

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1

COL5A1

N30339

1.7

Collagen, type V, alpha 1

ACVR2A

AI149508

1.5

Activin A receptor, type IIA

FBN1

AW955612

1.4

Fibrillin 1

BARX1

NM_021570N

-1.9

BARX homeobox 1

GABBR1

NM_001470

-1.9

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) B receptor, 1

HOXA11

H94842

-1.5

Homeobox A11

CHST11

NM_018413

-1.5

Carbohydrate (chondroitin 4) sulfotransferase 11

NSDHL

BC000245

-1.4

NAD(P) dependent steroid dehydrogenase-like

ZNRD1

AF230337

-1.3

Zinc ribbon domain containing 1

SMURF1

AF199364

-1.3

SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1

DNA repair

ZSWIM7

BE645222

-1.6

Zinc finger, SWIM-type containing 7

WDR33

AB044749

-1.5

WD repeat domain 33

ASF1A

NM_014034

-1.5

ASF1 anti-silencing function 1 homolog A (S. cerevisiae)

ATM

U82828

-1.3

ataxia telangiectasia mutated

PMS2L1

AI375694

-1.3

Postmeiotic segregation increased 2-like 1

ALKBH2

AI865555

-1.2

AlkB, alkylation repair homolog 2 (E. coli)

XRCC6

NM_001469

-1.2

X-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells 6

DCLRE1A

D42045

-1.2

DNA cross-link repair 1A (PSO2 homolog, S. cerevisiae)

PRPF19

NM_014502

-1.2

PRP19/PSO4 pre-mRNA processing factor 19 homolog (S. cerevisiae)

ELN

AA479278

2.5

Elastin (supravalvular aortic stenosis, Williams-Beuren syndrome)

Cellular biosynthetic process

PITX2

NM_000325

-6.4

Paired-like homeodomain 2

NR3C2

NM_000901

-5.8

Nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 2

GALNT6

AW014155

-4.5

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 6

RGMB

BE855765

-2.7

RGM domain family, member B

FOXF2

NM_001452

-2.2

Forkhead box F2

ZNF529

AL109722

-2.1

Zinc finger protein 529

BARX1

NM_021570

-1.9

BARX homeobox 1

DHODH

M94065

-1.9

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase

LMO4

BC003600

-1.8

LIM domain only 4

BRWD1

NM_018963

-1.7

Bromodomain and WD repeat domain containing 1

TARS2

NM_025150

-1.7

Threonyl-tRNA synthetase 2, mitochondrial (putative)

HLX

M60721

-1.7

H2.0-like homeobox

BNC2

AI767962

-1.7

Basonuclin 2

PGD

NM_002631

-1.6

Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase

MEIS1

AL832770

-1.6

Meis homeobox 1

ZNF420

AI339586

-1.6

Zinc finger protein 420

ZFP28

AA831323

-1.5

Zinc finger protein 28 homolog (mouse)

CARS2

NM_024537

-1.5

Cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase 2, mitochondrial (putative)

HOXA11

H94842

-1.5

Homeobox A11

PDLIM1

BC000915

13.2

PDZ and LIM domain 1 (elfin)

ITGB2

NM_000211

6.6

Integrin, beta 2 (complement component 3 receptor 3 and 4 subunit)

LMCD1

NM_014583

3.5

LIM and cysteine-rich domains 1

KRT7

BC002700

3.1

Keratin 7

ARNT

AI768497

2.3

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator

ZNF415

NM_018355

2.2

Zinc finger protein 415

ZNF630

AK000580

2.0

Zinc finger protein 630

INHBA

M13436

1.9

Inhibin, beta A

GALNT1

U41514

1.7

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1

ENPP1

BF057080

1.7

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1

Miscellaneous

PTGES

AF010316

3.2

Prostaglandin E synthase

ADAMTS5

NM_007038

1.7

ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 5 (aggrecanase-2)

DSP

NM_004415

5.2

Desmoplakin

FMOD

NM_002023

2.7

Fibromodulin

sFRP4

AW089415

3.4

Secreted frizzled-related protein 4

MCAM

M28882

2.3

Melanoma cell adhesion molecule

TNXB

NM_004381

-1.3

Tenascin XB

FUS

NM_004960

-1.5

Fusion (involved in t(12;16) in malignant liposarcoma)

TBX5

NM_000192

-1.3

T-box 5

*Positive number indicates elevated expression (fold) in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells. Negative number indicates decreased expression (fold) in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells.

We were particularly interested in identifying distinct differential gene expression patterns. As shown in Table 3, distinct differential gene expression patterns were apparent. For example, of the seven differentially-expressed genes classified in the immune response biological process, five genes had elevated expressions but only two genes had decreased expression in OA meniscal cells compared to the control meniscal cells. Of the three differentially-expressed genes classified in the inflammation response biological process, cytokine production biological process, calcium ion transport biological process or the biomineral formation biological process, all these genes had elevated expression in OA meniscal cells compared to the control meniscal cells. Of the four differentially-expressed genes classified in the regulation of phosphate metabolic process, three genes had elevated expression but only one gene had decreased expression in OA meniscal cells compared to the control meniscal cells. Of the eighteen genes classified in the cell proliferation biological process, thirteen genes had elevated expression but only five genes had decreased expression in OA meniscal cells compared to the control meniscal cells. Similar distinct expression patterns were also found in other categories of biological processes, including integrin-mediated signaling pathway and skeletal system/tissue development biological processes (Table 3).

In contrast, most of the genes with decreased expressions in OA meniscal cells compared to the control meniscal cells fell into a different set of biological processes. For example, of the ten differentially-expressed genes classified in the DNA repair biological process, nine genes had decreased expression but only one gene had elevated expression in OA meniscal cells compare to the control meniscal cells. Of the ninety-one differentially expressed genes classified in the cellular biosynthetic process biological process, seventy-four genes had decreased expression in OA meniscal cells and only seventeen genes had elevated expression (Partial results are listed in Table 3). These distinct distributions of the differentially-expressed genes in different sets of biological processes suggest that OA meniscal cells are different from normal meniscal cells. We also analyzed the differential gene expression between individual OA meniscal cells (OA1, OA2, OA3, OA4, and OA5) and the normal control meniscal cells together as a control group. Selected results are listed in Table 4.

Table 4

Genes differentially expressed in individual OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells.

Gene

Name

Gene ID

OA1

OA3

OA4

OA5

Description

BST1

NM_004334

3.9

3.4

3.3

1.6

2.2

bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1

FGF9

NM_002010

3.7

2.4

3.7

2.5

2.9

Fibroblast growth factor 9

ACAN

NM_013227

2.4

1.6

0.0

1.6

Aggrecan

COL11A1

J04177

0.0

11.5

5.8

2.2

3.6

Collagen, type XI, alpha 1

ANKH

AL833238

0.0

1.8

1.7

1.5

1.8

Ankylosis, progressive homolog (mouse)

MGP

NM_000900

11.8

4.7

21.6

0.0

17.6

Matrix Gla protein

TUFT1

NM_020127

2.8

2.7

1.9

0.0

Tuftelin 1

TFIP11

NM_012143

2.2

1.6

0.0

Tuftelin interacting protein 11

IL20RB

AL578102

2.3

2.7

0.0

2.6

7.8

Interleukin 20 receptor beta

IL26

NM_018402

1.7

1.6

0.0

3.0

Interleukin 26

COL4A5

AW052179

-3.1

-3.0

-3.1

-3.0

-3.1

Collagen, type IV, alpha 5 (Alport syndrome)

MMP9

NM_004994

-2.2

-2.1

0.0

-2.2

Matrix metallopeptidase 9

MMP10

NM_002425

-2.7

-2.6

-2.7

-1.5

-2.6

Matrix metallopeptidase 10

MMP12

NM_002426

-2.1

-2.0

-2.1

0.0

-2.1

Matrix metallopeptidase 12

FZD10

NM_007197

-1.6

-1.5

-1.6

-1.5

Frizzled homolog 10 (Drosophila)

CYTL1

NM_018659

-2.6

-2.5

Cytokine-like 1

CHODL

NM_024944

-2.6

Chondrolectin

Validation of differential expression of selected genes

The genes selected for validation by quantitative real-time PCR included seven genes that displayed elevated expression in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells (Table 5). They were major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha (HLA-DPA1), integrin, beta 2 (ITGB2), ectonucleotide phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1), ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 (ADAMTS5), prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), etc. Matrix metalloproteinase 10 (MMP10), which displayed decreased expression in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells, was also selected for validation. RNA sample extracted from OA1 meniscal cells (Table 4) and RNA sample (mixture) extracted from the three normal control meniscal cells were used in the quantitative real time RT-PCR experiments. As shown in Table 5, the differential expressions of these genes were confirmed.

Table 5

Differential gene expression confirmed by real time RT-PCR*

Gene name

Gene ID

Differential Expression* Microarray

Differential Expression* RT-PCR

Description

HLA-DPA1

M27487

5.3

10.5

Major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha

ITGB2

NM_000211

6.6

5.2

Integrin, beta 2

PTGES

AF010316

3.2

3.4

Prostaglandin E synthase

ENPP1

BF057080

1.7

2.1

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1

ADAMTS5

BI254089

1.7

1.9

ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 5

IL26

NM_018402

1.7

4.3

Interleukin 26

TUFT1

NM_020127

2.8

3.9

Matrix metalloproteinase 1

MMP10

NM_002425

-2.7

-3.1

Matrix metalloproteinase 10

*Differential Expression -- the numbers are the ratio of the relative expression level of a specific gene in OA1 meniscal cells to the relative expression level of the specific gene in the control meniscal cells (mixture of RNA prepared from the three normal control meniscal cells).

Discussion

In the present study, we found that more than eighty five percent (85.7%) of the OA patients who underwent joint replacement surgery in our Medical Center had severe degenerative menisci (grades 4 or 3), indicating that meniscal degeneration is common in OA patients. We also found that meniscal degeneration correlated positively with articular cartilage degeneration in OA patients. The Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) was 0.672 (p < 0.0001). Our finding is consistent with previous reports that meniscal degeneration/tears is a feature of OA knee joints 7, that meniscal degeneration contributes to joint space narrowing 10, that there is a strong association between meniscal damage and cartilage loss 9, and that degenerative meniscal tears are positively associated with the severity of articular degeneration compared with other types of meniscal tears 14. Taken together, our findings suggest that meniscal degeneration in OA, similar to cartilage degeneration, is a major degenerative process regardless of whether it is primary or secondary. Further studies such as examination of the complete patient histories may provide information regarding the cause-result relationship between meniscal degeneration and cartilage degeneration.

If meniscal degeneration is a general feature of OA, one would like to assess whether OA meniscal cells are different from normal meniscal cells and may play a role in the development of OA. To this end, we examined the differential gene expression between OA meniscal cells and normal control meniscal cells. We have recently reported that numerous genes that were classified in the biological process of immune response displayed elevated expression in OA FLS compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) FLS. HLA-DPA1 was expressed in OA FLS (hTERT-OA 13A FLS) 16 fold higher than that in RA FLS (hTERT-RA 516 FLS) 4. Consistently, many genes that were classified in the biological process of immune response including HLA-DPA1 also displayed elevated expression in OA meniscal cells (Table 3). The findings indicate that OA meniscal cells, similar to OA FLS, may be involved in the inflammatory process observed in OA.

Calcium-containing crystals are found in the joint fluid of up to 65% of OA patients, and the presence of these crystals correlates with the radiographic evidence of cartilaginous degeneration 15161718. There is evidence indicating that crystals may promote joint degeneration 192021. Most recently, it was demonstrated that the inhibition of meniscal calcification by calcium phosphocitrate, a potent anti-calcification agent, was accompanied by a significant reduction in the degeneration of articular cartilage in Hartley guinea pigs 22. These data suggest that excessive meniscal calcification may play a role in OA. However, there have been no studies to investigate the alterations in OA meniscal cells or to identify the candidate disease genes that are potentially responsible for the excessive meniscal calcification in OA. In the present study, we found that many genes which are involved in biomineral formation such as ENPP1 23, in phosphate metabolic process such as ITGB2 and in calcium ion transport such as calcium channel, voltage-dependent, L type, alpha 1C subunit (CACNA1C) are expressed at an elevated levels in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells. These findings are consistent with clinical observations that meniscal calcification is more severe in OA menisci 2425 and that calcium content in OA menisci is positively correlated with the stage of meniscal degeneration 26. In addition to the genes listed in Table 3, several other genes that have been previously implicated in pathological calcification were also detected (Table 4). They were ankylosis progressive homolog (ANKH) 2728, matrix Gla protein (MGP) 2930 and tuftelin (TUFT1) 313233. Taken together, our findings suggest that OA meniscal cells may be actively involved in the meniscal calcification process in OA.

Many genes that have been previously found to be expressed at elevated levels in other types of OA cells or tissues such as in OA articular cartilage and OA bone were also detected in this study. They were integrin, beta 8 (ITGB8) 34, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) 34, fibromodul (FMOD) 28, cathepsin S (CTSS) 35, secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) 34, bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (BST1) 35, collagen, type XI, alpha 1 (COL11A1) 34, collagen, type V, alpha 1 (COL5A1) 34, PTGES 36 and ADAMTS5 37. These genes were expressed at significantly elevated levels in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells (Tables 3 and 4). ADAMTS5 is a major cartilage matrix degrading enzyme and has been implicated in articular cartilage degeneration previously 3839. The elevated expression of ADAMTS5 in OA meniscal cells suggests that ADAMTS5 may play a role in meniscal degeneration.

Furthermore, many genes that have been previously found to be expressed at decreased levels in other types of OA cells or tissues were also detected in this study. They are MMP10 34, MMP12 40, tenascin XB (TNXB) 34, fusion (FUS) 28, melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) 35, and T-box 5 (TBX5) 5. These genes were expressed at decreased levels in OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells (Tables 3 and 4). The consistency between our findings and the previous findings provides strong support for our hypothesis that OA meniscal cells are different from normal meniscal cells and may play an active role in the development of OA.

Our study has some limitations which should be considered. The control meniscal cells we used were derived from the menisci of osteosarcoma patients and were not optimal normal control meniscal cells. To minimize this limitation, we only collected overtly normal-appearing meniscal and cartilage specimens (grade 0) from osteosarcoma patients whose tumors were located far away from the knee joints. In addition, we analyzed the differential gene expression using meniscal cells rather than using meniscal tissue specimens directly to eliminate the effect of different drugs that might be taken by OA and osteosarcoma patients at the time of surgery.

Most meniscal cells synthesize type I collagen as their major collagen product. The meniscal cells in the inner, central nonvascularized region of meniscus synthesize type II collagen. It is an open question at this time as to whether a single cell type exists in the meniscus that displays a fibroblast-like phenotype or a chondrocyte-like phenotype depending on its environment, or whether two or more distinct cell types exist. Therefore, it is not absolutely certain at this time whether the differences in the gene expressions detected in this study reflect the overall differences between OA meniscal cells and the control meniscal cells or only reflect the differences between a subpopulation of OA meniscal cells and a subpopulation of the control meniscal cells. Another limitation is that the age of osteosarcoma patients was younger than the age of OA patients. Therefore, certain genes we detected may be age-related rather disease-specific. It is difficult to obtain age-matched control meniscal specimens because osteosarcoma occurs often in younger patients while OA occurs mostly in older patients. We will continue this line of study when more age matched normal control meniscal specimens become available in the future. In spite of these limitations, the consistency between our findings and the previous findings that many of the genes we detected are also abnormally expressed in other OA cell types/tissues 45232834353640 suggests that many of the differential gene expressions detected in this study are disease-specific.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that OA is not merely a cartilage disease, but also a disease of the menisci. OA meniscal cells may play an active role in the disease process of OA. Investigation of the gene expression profile of OA meniscal cells compared to normal meniscal cells may reveal new therapeutic targets for OA therapy and uncover novel disease markers for early diagnosis of OA.

Abbreviations

OA: osteoarthritis; FLS: fibroblast-like synoviocytes; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; ITGB: integrin: beta; ADAMTS5: metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5; ANKH: ankylosis: progressive homolog; BST1: bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1; CACNA1C: calcium channel: voltage-dependent: L type: alpha 1C subunit; COL5A1: collagen, type V, alpha 1; COL11A1: collagen, type XI, alpha 1; CTSS: cathepsin S; ENPP1: ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1; FGF7: fibroblast growth factor 7; FMOD: fibromodul; FUS: fusion; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HLA-DPA1: major histocompatibility complex, class II, DP alpha 1; IGFBP7: insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7; MCAM: melanoma cell adhesion molecule; MGP: matrix Gla protein; PTGES: prostaglandin E synthase; SFRP4: secreted frizzled-related protein 4; TUFT1: tuftelin; TBX5: T-box 5; TNXB: tenascin XB.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

YS, HEG and ENH conceived the study and participated in design and coordination. YS wrote the manuscript. DRM and JSK provided surgical tissues and participated in the discussion of experimental results. HJN assisted with statistical analysis. PRH, DRM and YS graded menisci and articular cartilage. PRH prepared cell culture and extracted RNA. HEG assisted with manuscript preparation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

This study is supported in part by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Education and Research Foundation Grant (to YS) and Mecklenburg County Medical Society Smith Arthritis Fund Grant (to YS). This study was performed at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC.

OsteoarthritisGoldringMBGoldringSRJ Cell Physiol200721362663410.1002/jcp.2125817786965Osteoarthritis: a tale of three tissuesSamuelsJKrasnokutskySAbramsonSBBull NYU Hosp Jt Dis20086624425018937640Large-scale gene expression profiles, differentially represented in osteoarthritic synovium of the knee joint using cDNA microarray technologyHKatoMatsumineAWakabayashiTHasegawaMSudoAShintaniKFukudaAKatoKIdeNOritaSHasegawaTMatsumuraCFurukawaMTasakiTSonodaHUchidaABiomarkers20071238440210.1080/1354750060116248217564844Telomerase transduced osteoarthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes display a distinct gene expression profileSunYMauerhanDRFiresteinGSLoefflerBJHanleyENGruberHEJ Rheumatol200936141155268931719040300Distinctive gene expression signatures in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue fibroblast cells: correlates with disease activityGalliganCLBaigEBykerkVKeystoneECFishENGenes Immun2007848049110.1038/sj.gene.636440017568789Microarray gene expression profiling of osteoarthritic bone suggests altered bone remodelling, WNT and transforming growth factor-beta/bone morphogenic protein signallingHopwoodBTsykinAFindlayDMFazzalariNLArthritis Res Ther20079R10010.1186/ar2301221255717900349Osteoarthritis of the knee: comparison of radiography, CT, and MR imaging to assess extent and severityChanWPLangPStevensMPSackKMajumdarSStollerDWBaschCGenantHKAJR Am J Roentgenol19911577998061892040Meniscal and articular cartilage changes in knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional double-contrast macroradiographic studyBennettLDBuckland-WrightJCRheumatology20024191792310.1093/rheumatology/41.8.91712154209The association of meniscal pathologic changes with cartilage loss in symptomatic knee osteoarthritisHunterDJZhangYQNiuJBTuXAminSClancyMGuermaziAGrigorianMGaleDFelsonDTArthritis & Rheumatism200654795801Change in joint space width: hyaline articular cartilage loss or alteration in meniscus?HunterDJZhangYQTuXLavalleyMNiuJBAminSGuermaziAGenantHGaleDFelsonDTArthritis Rheum2006542488249510.1002/art.2201616868968Three-dimensional culture of human meniscal cells: extracellular matrix and proteoglycan productionGruberHEMauerhanDChowYIngramJANortonHJHanleyENJrSunYBMC Biotechnol200885410.1186/1472-6750-8-54244312618582376Quantification of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA: development and validation of an internally standardised competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactionPfafflMMeyerHHSauerweinHExp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes199810650651310.1055/s-0029-121202510079033Identifying differentially expressed genes using false discovery rate controlling proceduresReinerAYekutieliDBenjaminiYBioinformatics20031936837510.1093/bioinformatics/btf87712584122Is there an association between articular cartilage changes and degenerative meniscus tears?ChristoforakisJPradhanRSanchez-BallesterJHuntNStrachanRKArthroscopy2005211366136910.1016/j.arthro.2005.08.03116325089Hydroxyapatite crystals are a frequent finding in osteoarthritic synovial fluid, but are not related to increased concentrations of keratan sulfate or interleukin 1 betaCarrollGJStuartRAArmstrongJABreidahlPDLaingBAThe Journal of Rheumatology1991188618661895267The high prevalence of pathologic calcium crystals in pre-operative kneesDerfusBAKurianJBButlerJJDaftLJCarreraGFRyanLMRosenthalAKJ Rheumatol20022957057411908575The prevalence of chondrocalcinosis in the elderly and its association with knee osteoarthritis: the Framingham StudyFelsonDTAndersonJJNaimarkAKannelWMeenanRFThe Journal of Rheumatology198916124112452810282Synovial fluid features and their relations to osteoarthritis severity: new findings from sequential studiesNalbantSMartinezJAKitumnuaypongTClayburneGSieckMSchumacherHRJrOsteoarthritis and Cartilage200311505410.1053/joca.2002.086112505487Induction of expression of c-fos and c-myc protooncogenes by basic calcium phosphate crystal: effect of beta-interferonCheungHSMitchellPGPledgerWJCancer Res1989491341382491749Basic calcium phosphate crystal-induced collagenase production: role of intracellular crystal dissolutionMcCarthyGMCheungHSAbelSMRyanLMOsteoarthritis Cartilage1998620521310.1053/joca.1998.01139682787Basic calcium phosphate crystals stimulate the endocytotic activity of cells--inhibition by anti-calcification agentsSunYZengXRWengerLCheungHSBiochem Biophys Res Commun20033121053105910.1016/j.bbrc.2003.11.04814651978Phosphocitrate blocks calcification-induced articular joint degeneration in a guinea pig modelCheungHSSallisJDDemadisKDWierzbickiAArthritis Rheum2006542452246110.1002/art.2201716869019Investigation of the role of ENPP1 and TNAP genes in chondrocalcinosisZhangYBrownMAPeachCRussellGWordsworthBPRheumatology (Oxford)20074658658910.1093/rheumatology/kel33817043047Cross-sectional study of 50 patients with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal arthropathyCanhaoHFonsecaJELeandroMJRomeuJCPimentaoJBCostaJTQueirozMVClin Rheumatol20012011912211346223[Calcinosis of the meniscus. Morphologic and roentgenographic findings for zonal classification]BrandesAMullerKMPathologe19951626927710.1007/s0029200501017667209Relationship between meniscal degeneration and element contentsHabataTOhgushiHTakakuraYTohnoYMoriwakeYMinamiTFujisawaYBiological Trace Element Research20017924725610.1385/BTER:79:3:24711354349Autosomal dominant familial calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease is caused by mutation in the transmembrane protein ANKHWilliamsCJZhangYTimmsABonavitaGCaeiroFBroxholmeJCuthbertsonJJonesYMarchegianiRReginatoARussellRGWordsworthBPCarrAJBrownMAAm J Hum Genet20027198599110.1086/34305341999812297989Anabolic and catabolic gene expression pattern analysis in normal versus osteoarthritic cartilage using complementary DNA-array technologyAignerTZienAGehrsitzAGebhardPMMcKennaLArthritis Rheum2001442777278910.1002/1529-0131(200112)44:12<2777::AID-ART465>3.0.CO;2-H11762938Matrix GLA protein is a developmental regulator of chondrocyte mineralization and, when constitutively expressed, blocks endochondral and intramembranous ossification in the limbYagamiKSuhJYEnomoto-IwamotoMKoyamaEAbramsWRShapiroIMPacificiMIwamotoMThe Journal of Cell Biology19991471097110810.1083/jcb.147.5.1097216934910579728Matrix Gla protein and osteopontin genetic associations with coronary artery calcification and bone density: the CARDIA studyTaylorBCSchreinerPJDohertyTMFornageMCarrJJSidneySHum Genet200511652552810.1007/s00439-005-1258-315744522A tuftelin-interacting protein (TIP39) localizes to the apical secretory pole of mouse ameloblastsPaineCTPaineMLLuoWOkamotoCTLyngstadaasSPSneadMLJ Biol Chem2000275222842229210.1074/jbc.M00011820010806191[Mineralized dental enamel matrix proteins]CernyRBratisl Lek Listy200010128829311039195The human tuftelin gene and the expression of tuftelin in mineralizing and nonmineralizing tissuesDeutschDLeiserYShayBFermonETaylorARosenfeldEDafniLCharuviKCohenYHazeAFuksAMaoZConnect Tissue Res20024342543412489194Differential expression of GADD45beta in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage: potential role in homeostasis of articular chondrocytesIjiriKZerbiniLFPengHOtuHHTsuchimochiKOteroMDragomirCWalshNBierbaumBEMattinglyDvanFGKomiyaSAignerTLibermannTAGoldringMBArthritis Rheum2008582075208710.1002/art.2350418576389Global analyses of gene expression in early experimental osteoarthritisAppletonCTPitelkaVHenryJBeierFArthritis Rheum2007561854186810.1002/art.2271117530714Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles in intact and damaged regions of human osteoarthritic cartilageSatoTKonomiKYamasakiSArataniSTsuchimochiKYokouchiMMasuko-HongoKYagishitaNNakamuraHKomiyaSBeppuMAokiHNishiokaKNakajimaTArthritis Rheum20065480881710.1002/art.2163816508957Aggrecanolysis in human osteoarthritis: confocal localization and biochemical characterization of ADAMTS5-hyaluronan complexes in articular cartilagesPlaasAOsbornBYoshiharaYBaiYBloomTNelsonFMikeczKSandyJDOsteoarthritis Cartilage20071571973410.1016/j.joca.2006.12.00817360199Double-knockout of ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 in mice results in physiologically normal animals and prevents the progression of osteoarthritisMajumdarMKAskewRSchellingSStedmanNBlanchetTHopkinsBMorrisEAGlassonSSArthritis Rheum2007563670367410.1002/art.2302717968948Fibroblast growth factor 2 is an intrinsic chondroprotective agent that suppresses ADAMTS-5 and delays cartilage degradation in murine osteoarthritisChiaSLSawajiYBurleighAMcLeanCInglisJSaklatvalaJVincentTArthritis Rheum2009602019202710.1002/art.2465419565481Expression profiling of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in synovium and cartilageDavidsonRKWatersJGKevorkianLDarrahCCooperADonellSTClarkIMArthritis Res Ther20068R12410.1186/ar2013177941316859525

Pre-publication history

The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/11/19/prepub