Expression of Indian hedgehog protein and Runt related transcription factor 2 in rats with osteoarthritis caused by anterior cruciate ligament transection / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Indian hedgehog homolog (Ihh) protein and its signal protein Gli1, as wel as Runt related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) are closely related to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. The increased expression of these factors is one of the major causes of degenerative joint changes. OBJECTIVE:To explore the roles of Ihh, Gli1 and Runx2 in the development of osteoarthritis. METHODS:Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groupscontrol group (n=10) and model group (n=20). In the model group, rats received unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection, to establish osteoarthritis model. Ten experimental rats were kil ed at 4 and 12 weeks after surgery respectively. Another 10 rats received unilateral knee arthrotomy as pseudo-operation controls and 10 pseudo-operation rats were kil ed at 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the model group, cartilage degeneration was obvious at 4 weeks and became severer at 12 weeks after anterior cruciate ligament transection operation. Expression levels of Ihh, Gli1 and Runx2 in the cartilage were increased significantly at 4 weeks after operation, but decreased at 12 weeks after operation. Experimental findings indicate that Ihh, Gli1 and Runx2 play important roles in the development of osteoarthritis, and their expression levels are significantly increased at early stage of osteoarthritis, which can be regarded as the indicators in the prophylaxis and treatment research of osteoarthritis.