High-Temperature Requirement A1 Protease as a Rate-Limiting Factor in the Development of Osteoarthritis.

Preserving the mature articular cartilage of joints is a critical focus in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis. We determined whether the genetic inactivation of high-temperature requirement A1 (HtrA1) can significantly attenuate the degradation of articular or condylar cartilage. Two types of mouse models of osteoarthritis were used, a spontaneous mutant mouse model [type XI collagen-haploinsufficient (Col11a1+/-) mice] and two post-traumatic mouse models [destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) on the knee and a partial discectomy (PDE) on the temporomandibular joint]. Three different groups of mice were generated: i) HtrA1 was genetically deleted from Col11a1+/- mice (HtrA1-/-;Col11a1+/-), ii) HtrA1-deficient mice (HtrA1-/-) were subjected to DMM, and iii) HtrA1-/- mice were subjected to PDE. Knee and temporomandibular joints from the mice were characterized for evidence of cartilage degeneration. The degradation of articular or condylar cartilage was significantly delayed in HtrA1-/-;Col11a1+/- mice and HtrA1-/- mice after DMM or PDE. The amount of collagen type VI was significantly higher in the articular cartilage in HtrA1-/-;Col11a1+/- mice, compared with that in Col11a1+/- mice. The genetic removal of HtrA1 may delay the degradation of articular or condylar cartilage in mice.

Attenuation of the progression of articular cartilage degeneration by inhibition of TGF-ß1 signaling in a mouse model of osteoarthritis.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) is implicated in osteoarthritis. We therefore studied the role of TGF-ß1 signaling in the development of osteoarthritis in a developmental stage-dependent manner. Three different mouse models were investigated. First, the Tgf-ß receptor II (Tgfbr2) was specifically removed from the mature cartilage of joints. Tgfbr2-deficient mice were grown to 12 months of age and were then euthanized for collection of knee and temporomandibular joints. Second, Tgfbr2-deficient mice were subjected to destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. Knee joints were then collected from the mice at 8 and 16 weeks after the surgery. Third, wild-type mice were subjected to DMM at the age of 8 weeks. Immediately after the surgery, these mice were treated with the Tgfbr2 inhibitor losartan for 8 weeks and then euthanized for collection of knee joints. All joints were characterized for evidences of articular cartilage degeneration. Initiation or acceleration of articular cartilage degeneration was not observed by the genetic inactivation of Tgfbr2 in the joints at the age of 12 months. In fact, the removal of Tgfbr2 and treatment with losartan both delayed the progression of articular cartilage degeneration induced by DMM compared with control littermates. Therefore, we conclude that inhibition of Tgf-ß1 signaling protects adult knee joints in mice against the development of osteoarthritis.

Pressure perturbation calorimetry of helical peptides.

Pressure perturbation calorimetry quantifies the temperature dependence of a solute's thermal expansion coefficient, providing information about solute-solvent interactions. We tested the idea that pressure perturbation calorimetry can provide information about solvent-accessible surface area by studying peptides with different secondary structures. The peptides comprised two host-guest series: one predominately an alpha-helix, the other predominately a polyproline II helix. In aqueous buffer, we find a correlation between the amount of secondary structure as assessed by circular dichroism spectropolarimetry and the pressure perturbation calorimetry data. We conclude that pressure perturbation calorimetry can provide information about the exposure of polar and nonpolar surface area. Data acquired in a buffered urea solution, however, are not as easily interpreted.