DISCOORDINATE GENE-EXPRESSION OF AGGRECAN AND TYPE-II COLLAGEN IN EXPERIMENTAL OSTEOARTHRITIS

Objective, To quantify the gene expression of aggrecan core protein an d type II collagen in an experimental animal model of osteoarthritis ( OA), Methods, Total RNA was extracted from the articular cartilage of unoperated knee joints and from OA joints produced by anterior cruciat e ligament transection, The relative amounts of type II collagen and a ggrecan core protein messenger RNA (mRNA) were evaluated by Northern b lot analysis, Results, Total RNA was elevated 2.5 times, aggrecan mRNA was elevated 2 times, and type II collagen mRNA was elevated 8 times, in OA knees compared to unoperated controls, Conclusion, Chondrocytes are activated metabolically in response to joint injury, Discoordinat e gene expression of aggrecan and type II collagen is characteristic o f early experimental OA, and we speculate that it may contribute to it s pathogenesis,