The role of osteoactivin-derived peptides in osteoblast differentiation.

BACKGROUND: In our previous studies, we found that osteoactivin (OA) plays an important role in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Our studies also suggested that the region of OA protein that contains an RGD motif might play a vital role in the function of OA in osteoblast differentiation. In this study, we examined the functional role of OA-derived peptide containing the RGD motif (OA-D) in osteoblast differentiation. MATERIAL/METHODS: For this purpose, we designed another peptide, termed OA-E, that has sequence similar to OA-D but with glutamic acid (E) instead of aspartic acid (D). The effect of OA-E peptide on osteoblast differentiation was examined. Interestingly, OA-E peptide induced osteoblast differentiation in a manner similar to OA-D peptide. These data suggested that the effect of OA-derived peptides is RGD independent and it could be dependent on other features in the amino acid sequence of these peptides. RESULTS: OA-D peptide treatment markedly induced osteoblast differentiation markers in vitro compared to cultures treated with negative control peptide (NCP). Interestingly, OA-E peptide induced osteoblast differentiation in a manner similar to OA-D peptide. These data suggested that the effect of OA-derived peptides is RGD independent and it could be dependent on other features in the amino acid sequence of these peptides. Since phosphorylation of amino acid residues in proteins and peptides plays a major role in biological systems, the phosphorylation pattern of amino acid sequences of OA-derived peptides and OA protein family members were examined using bioinformatic analysis tools. We found that OA-derived peptides and OA protein family members have serine residue, close to c-terminus and might be phosphorylated with casein kinase II. Casein kinase II is known to phosphorylate many osteoblast-related proteins that regulate osteoblast development and differentiation such as osteopontin and vitronectin. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data showed that both OA-D and OA-E peptides significantly induced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and that effect is RGD independent.

Amelioration of inflammation, angiogenesis and CTGF expression in an arthritis model by a TSP1-derived peptide treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a thrombospondin 1 (TSP1)-derived peptide on inflammation and angiogenesis in an animal model of erosive arthritis and to assess the relationship between TSP1 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Erosive arthritis in Lewis rats was induced by peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS). Animals were divided into four groups: (1) negative control and groups receiving, (2) no treatment, (3) treatment with a TSP1-derived peptide, and (4) treatment with a scrambled peptide. Samples obtained from ankle joint, spleen and liver were studied using histology, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Histological data indicated that the TSP1-derived peptide treatment decreased neovascularization, leukocyte infiltration and thickening of the synovial lining of the joint, and reduced granuloma formation in the spleen and liver when compared to control groups. Higher concentrations of CTGF and TSP1 proteins were observed in the affected areas of animals which did not receive TSP1-derived peptide treatment. Also, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR analyses showed an increase in CTGF protein expression and regulation, respectively, in the tissues of untreated animals when compared to the TSP1-derived peptide treated animals. By immunofluorescence, TSP1 expression was decreased in the TSP1-derived peptide treated animals. Moreover, macrophage/monocyte-specific staining revealed a decrease in cell infiltration in the articular tissue of the TSP1-derived peptide treated animals. CONCLUSION: Both inflammation and angiogenesis were decreased after TSP1-derived peptide treatment indicating a potential pathway by which TSP1 interaction with neutrophils induces CTGF in RA affected tissues.

Modulation of inflammation by kininogen deficiency in a rat model of inflammatory arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare inflammatory peripheral arthritis in wild-type and high molecular weight kininogen (HK)-deficient rats, both on the genetically susceptible Lewis background. METHODS: By backcrossing Brown-Norway HK-deficient rats with Lewis rats for 6 generations, 2 new strains were produced, wild-type F6 and HK-deficient F6, each with a 98.5% Lewis genome. Inflammatory arthritis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS), and the clinical, histopathologic, and biochemical responses were compared in both strains. RESULTS: Eighteen days after PG-PS injection, rats with normal concentrations of HK showed weight loss and marked increase in hind ankle diameter with severe synovial inflammation and cartilage abnormalities. In contrast, HK-deficient rats showed no weight loss (P < 0.05), no increase in hind ankle diameter (P < 0.05), and an absence of inflammatory changes (P < 0.05), as measured by the histologic and morphometric Mankin grading system for synovial and cartilage injury. CONCLUSION: Plasma HK is a key mediator of acute and chronic inflammatory arthritis in genetically susceptible Lewis rats.