Regulation of lubricin gene expression and synthesis in cartilage by mechanical injury

[摘要] (cont.) This finding, plus the fact that injury and TGF-f are each known to increase lubricin expression, suggested that the TGF-3 signaling pathway may be a mechanism through which injury induces lubricin expression. We therefore tested the hypothesis that blocking the TGF-P pathway would suppress the increase in lubricin gene expression and protein secretion caused by injurious compression of cartilage. Indeed, lubricin gene expression and protein secretion were reduced after blocking TGF-f compared to injury alone. Together, these results show that surface damage caused injury and sliding motion can be ameliorated by the presence of lubricin on the cartilage surface. The TGF-3 pathway is an important mechanism in regulating the increased lubricin gene expression and secretion that result from injury.

[发布机构] Massachusetts Institute of Technology