A human meniscus explant model for studying early events in osteoarthritis development by proteomics.

Degenerative meniscus lesions have been associated with both osteoarthritis etiology and its progression. We, therefore, sought to establish a human meniscus ex vivo model to study the meniscal response to cytokine treatment using a proteomics approach. Lateral menisci were obtained from five knee-healthy donors. The meniscal body was cut into vertical slices and further divided into an inner (avascular) and outer region. Explants were either left untreated (controls) or stimulated with cytokines. Medium changes were conducted every 3 days up to Day 21 and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed at all the time points for the identification and quantification of proteins. Mixed-effect linear regression models were used for statistical analysis to estimate the effect of treatments versus control on protein abundance. Treatment by IL1ß increased release of cytokines such as interleukins, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases but a limited catabolic effect in healthy human menisci explants. Further, we observed an increased release of matrix proteins (collagens, integrins, prolargin, tenascin) in response to oncostatin M (OSM) + tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF+interleukin-6 (IL6) + sIL6R treatments, and analysis of semitryptic peptides provided additional evidence of increased catabolic effects in response to these treatments. The induced activation of catabolic processes may play a role in osteoarthritis development.

Proteomic analysis reveals dexamethasone rescues matrix breakdown but not anabolic dysregulation in a cartilage injury model.

OBJECTIVES: In this exploratory study, we used discovery proteomics to follow the release of proteins from bovine knee articular cartilage in response to mechanical injury and cytokine treatment. We also studied the effect of the glucocorticoid Dexamethasone (Dex) on these responses. DESIGN: Bovine cartilage explants were treated with either cytokines alone (10 ng/ml TNFα, 20 ng/ml IL-6, 100 ng/ml sIL-6R), a single compressive mechanical injury, cytokines and injury, or no treatment, and cultured in serum-free DMEM supplemented with 1% ITS for 22 days. All samples were incubated with or without addition of 100 nM Dex. Mass spectrometry and western blot analyses were performed on medium samples for the identification and quantification of released proteins. RESULTS: We identified 500 unique proteins present in all three biological replicates. Many proteins involved in the catabolic response of cartilage degradation had increased release after inflammatory stress. Dex rescued many of these catabolic effects. The release of some proteins involved in anabolic and chondroprotective processes was inconsistent, indicating differential effects on processes that may protect cartilage from injury. Dex restored only a small fraction of these to the control state, while others had their effects exacerbated by Dex exposure. CONCLUSIONS: We identified proteins that were released upon cytokine treatment which could be potential biomarkers of the inflammatory contribution to cartilage degradation. We also demonstrated the imperfect rescue of Dex on the effects of cartilage degradation, with many catabolic factors being reduced, while other anabolic or chondroprotective processes were not.

Crystal structure of human chondroadherin: solving a difficult molecular-replacement problem using de novo models.

Chondroadherin (CHAD) is a cartilage matrix protein that mediates the adhesion of isolated chondrocytes. Its protein core is composed of 11 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) flanked by cysteine-rich domains. CHAD makes important interactions with collagen as well as with cell-surface heparin sulfate proteoglycans and α2ß1 integrins. The integrin-binding site is located in a region of hitherto unknown structure at the C-terminal end of CHAD. Peptides based on the C-terminal human CHAD (hCHAD) sequence have shown therapeutic potential for treating osteoporosis. This article describes a still-unconventional structure solution by phasing with de novo models, the first of a ß-rich protein. Structure determination of hCHAD using traditional, though nonsystematic, molecular replacement was unsuccessful in the hands of the authors, possibly owing to a combination of low sequence identity to other LRR proteins, four copies in the asymmetric unit and weak translational pseudosymmetry. However, it was possible to solve the structure by generating a large number of de novo models for the central LRR domain using Rosetta and multiple parallel molecular-replacement attempts using AMPLE. The hCHAD structure reveals an ordered C-terminal domain belonging to the LRRCT fold, with the integrin-binding motif (WLEAK) being part of a regular α-helix, and suggests ways in which experimental therapeutic peptides can be improved. The crystal structure itself and docking simulations further support that hCHAD dimers form in a similar manner to other matrix LRR proteins.

The Tyrosine Sulfate Domain of Fibromodulin Binds Collagen and Enhances Fibril Formation.

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans interact with other extracellular matrix proteins and are important regulators of matrix assembly. Fibromodulin has a key role in connective tissues, binding collagen through two identified binding sites in its leucine-rich repeat domain and regulating collagen fibril formation in vitro and in vivo Some nine tyrosine residues in the fibromodulin N-terminal domain are O-sulfated, a posttranslational modification often involved in protein interactions. The N-terminal domain mimics heparin, binding proteins with clustered basic amino acid residues. Because heparin affects collagen fibril formation, we investigated whether tyrosine sulfate is involved in fibromodulin interactions with collagen. Using full-length fibromodulin and its N-terminal tyrosine-sulfated domain purified from tissue, as well as recombinant fibromodulin fragments, we found that the N-terminal domain binds collagen. The tyrosine-sulfated domain and the leucine-rich repeat domain both bound to three specific sites along the collagen type I molecule, at the N terminus and at 100 and 220 nm from the N terminus. The N-terminal domain shortened the collagen fibril formation lag phase and tyrosine sulfation was required for this effect. The isolated leucine-rich repeat domain inhibited the fibril formation rate, and full-length fibromodulin showed a combination of these effects. The fibrils formed in the presence of fibromodulin or its fragments showed more organized structure. Fibromodulin and its tyrosine sulfate domain remained bound on the formed fiber. Taken together, this suggests a novel, regulatory function for tyrosine sulfation in collagen interaction and control of fibril formation.

The leucine-rich repeat protein PRELP binds fibroblast cell-surface proteoglycans and enhances focal adhesion formation.

PRELP (proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein) is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family of extracellular matrix proteins in connective tissue. In contrast with other members of the family, the N-terminal domain of PRELP has a high content of proline and positively charged amino acids. This domain has previously been shown to bind chondrocytes and to inhibit osteoclast differentiation. In the present study, we show that PRELP mediates cell adhesion by binding to cell-surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Thus, rat skin fibroblasts (RSFs) bound to full-length PRELP and to the N-terminal part of PRELP alone, but not to truncated PRELP lacking the positively charged N-terminal region. Cell attachment to PRELP was inhibited by addition of soluble heparin or heparan sulfate (HS), by blocking sulfation of the fibroblasts or by treating the cells with a combination of chondroitinase and heparinase. Using affinity chromatography, we identified syndecan-1, syndecan-4 and glypican-1 as cell-surface proteoglycans (PGs) binding to the N-terminal part of PRELP. Finally, we show that the N-terminal domain of PRELP in combination with the integrin-binding domain of fibronectin, but neither of the fragments alone, induced fibroblast focal adhesion formation. These findings provide support for a role of the N-terminal region of PRELP as an important regulator of cell adhesion and behaviour, which may be of importance in pathological conditions.

The novel small leucine-rich protein chondroadherin-like (CHADL) is expressed in cartilage and modulates chondrocyte differentiation.

The constitution and biophysical properties of extracellular matrices can dramatically influence cellular phenotype during development, homeostasis, or pathogenesis. These effects can be signaled through a differentially regulated assembly of collagen fibrils, orchestrated by a family of collagen-associated small leucine-rich proteins (SLRPs). In this report, we describe the tissue-specific expression and function of a previously uncharacterized SLRP, chondroadherin-like (CHADL). We developed antibodies against CHADL and, by immunohistochemistry, detected CHADL expression mainly in skeletal tissues, particularly in fetal cartilage and in the pericellular space of adult chondrocytes. In situ hybridizations and immunoblots on tissue lysates confirmed this tissue-specific expression pattern. Recombinant CHADL bound collagen in cell culture and inhibited in vitro collagen fibrillogenesis. After Chadl shRNA knockdown, chondrogenic ATDC5 cells increased their differentiation, indicated by increased transcript levels of Sox9, Ihh, Col2a1, and Col10a1. The knockdown increased collagen II and aggrecan deposition in the cell layers. Microarray analysis of the knockdown samples suggested collagen receptor-related changes, although other upstream effects could not be excluded. Together, our data indicate that the novel SLRP CHADL is expressed in cartilaginous tissues, influences collagen fibrillogenesis, and modulates chondrocyte differentiation. CHADL appears to have a negative regulatory role, possibly ensuring the formation of a stable extracellular matrix.

The α2ß1 binding domain of chondroadherin inhibits breast cancer-induced bone metastases and impairs primary tumour growth: a preclinical study.

cyclicCHAD is a peptide representing the α2ß1 integrin binding sequence of the matrix protein chondroadherin (CHAD), which in our hands proved effective at counteracting bone loss in ovariectomised mice by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. Given that bone metastases are characterised by exacerbated osteoclast activity as well, we tested this therapy in mice intracardiacally injected with the osteotropic human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Treatment with cyclicCHAD significantly decreased cachexia and incidence of bone metastases, and induced a trend of reduction of visceral metastasis volume, while in orthotopically injected mice cyclicCHAD reduced tumour volume. In vitro studies showed its ability to impair tumour cell motility and invasion, suggesting a direct effect not only on osteoclasts but also on the tumour cell phenotype. Interestingly, when administered together with a suboptimal, poorly effective, dose of doxorubicin (DXR), cyclicCHAD improved survival and reduced visceral metastases volume to a level similar to that of the optimal dose of DXR alone. Taken together, these preclinical data suggest that cyclicCHAD is a new inhibitor of bone metastases, with an appreciable direct effect also on tumour growth and a synergistic activity in combination with low dose chemotherapy, underscoring an important translational impact.

Increased C-telopeptide cross-linking of tendon type I collagen in fibromodulin-deficient mice.

The controlled assembly of collagen monomers into fibrils, with accompanying intermolecular cross-linking by lysyl oxidase-mediated bonds, is vital to the structural and mechanical integrity of connective tissues. This process is influenced by collagen-associated proteins, including small leucine-rich proteins (SLRPs), but the regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. Deficiency in fibromodulin, an SLRP, causes abnormal collagen fibril ultrastructure and decreased mechanical strength in mouse tendons. In this study, fibromodulin deficiency rendered tendon collagen more resistant to nonproteolytic extraction. The collagen had an increased and altered cross-linking pattern at an early stage of fibril formation. Collagen extracts contained a higher proportion of stably cross-linked α1(I) chains as a result of their C-telopeptide lysines being more completely oxidized to aldehydes. The findings suggest that fibromodulin selectively affects the extent and pattern of lysyl oxidase-mediated collagen cross-linking by sterically hindering access of the enzyme to telopeptides, presumably through binding to the collagen. Such activity implies a broader role for SLRP family members in regulating collagen cross-linking placement and quantity.

The C-terminal domain of chondroadherin: a new regulator of osteoclast motility counteracting bone loss.

Chondroadherin (CHAD) is a leucine-rich protein promoting cell attachment through binding to integrin α2 ß1 and syndecans. We observed that CHAD mRNA and protein were lower in bone biopsies of 50-year-old to 65-year-old osteoporotic women and in bone samples of ovariectomized mice versus gender/age-matched controls, suggesting a role in bone metabolism. By the means of an internal cyclic peptide (cyclicCHAD), we observed that its integrin binding sequence impaired preosteoclast migration through a nitric oxide synthase 2-dependent mechanism, decreasing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in a concentration-dependent fashion, whereas it had no effect on osteoblasts. Consistently, cyclicCHAD reduced transcription of two nitric oxide downstream genes, migfilin and vasp, involved in cell motility. Furthermore, the nitric oxide donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine, stimulated preosteoclast migration and prevented the inhibitory effect of cyclicCHAD. Conversely, the nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) inhibitor, N5-(1-iminoethyl)-l-ornithine, decreased both preosteoclast migration and differentiation, confirming a role of the nitric oxide pathway in the mechanism of action triggered by cyclicCHAD. In vivo, administration of cyclicCHAD was well tolerated and increased bone volume in healthy mice, with no adverse effect. In ovariectomized mice cyclicCHAD improved bone mass by both a preventive and a curative treatment protocol, with an effect in line with that of the bisphosphonate alendronate, that was mimicked by the NOS2 inhibitor [L-N6-(1-Iminoethyl)-lysine.2 dihydrochloride]. In both mouse models, cyclicCHAD reduced osteoclast and bone resorption without affecting osteoblast parameters and bone formation. In conclusion, CHAD is a novel regulator of bone metabolism that, through its integrin binding domain, inhibits preosteoclast motility and bone resorption, with a potential translational impact for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein N-terminus is a novel osteoclast antagonist that counteracts bone loss.

(hbd) PRELP is a peptide corresponding to the N-terminal heparin binding domain of the matrix protein proline/arginine-rich end leucine-rich repeat protein (PRELP). (hbd) PRELP inhibits osteoclastogenesis entering pre-fusion osteoclasts through a chondroitin sulfate- and annexin 2-dependent mechanism and reducing the nuclear factor-κB transcription factor activity. In this work, we hypothesized that (hbd) PRELP could have a pharmacological relevance, counteracting bone loss in a variety of in vivo models of bone diseases induced by exacerbated osteoclast activity. In healthy mice, we demonstrated that the peptide targeted the bone and increased trabecular bone mass over basal level. In mice treated with retinoic acid to induce an acute increase of osteoclast formation, the peptide consistently antagonized osteoclastogenesis and prevented the increase of the serum levels of the osteoclast-specific marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. In ovariectomized mice, in which osteoclast activity was chronically enhanced by estrogen deficiency, (hbd) PRELP counteracted exacerbated osteoclast activity and bone loss. In mice carrying osteolytic bone metastases, in which osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption were enhanced by tumor cell-derived factors, (hbd) PRELP reduced the incidence of osteolytic lesions, both preventively and curatively, with mechanisms involving impaired tumor cell homing to bone and tumor growth in the bone microenvironment. Interestingly, in tumor-bearing mice, (hbd) PRELP also inhibited breast tumor growth in orthotopic sites and development of metastatic disease in visceral organs, reducing cachexia and improving survival especially when administered preventively. (hbd) PRELP was retained in the tumor tissue and appeared to affect tumor growth by interacting with the microenvironment rather than by directly affecting the tumor cells. Because safety studies and high-dose treatments revealed no adverse effects, (hbd) PRELP could be employed as a novel biological agent to combat experimentally induced bone loss and breast cancer metastases, with a potential translational impact.

The C-terminal peptide of chondroadherin modulates cellular activity by selectively binding to heparan sulfate chains.

Chondroadherin, a leucine-rich repeat family member, contains a very C-terminal sequence CKFPTKRSKKAGRH(359), now shown to bind to heparin with a K(D) of 13 µm. This observation led us to investigate whether chondroadherin interacts via this C-terminal heparin-binding domain with glycosaminoglycan chains of proteoglycans at the cell surface. Cells were shown to bind this heparin-binding peptide in FACS analysis, and the interaction was shown to be with glycosaminoglycans because it was abolished when sulfation was inhibited by chlorate treatment of the cells. In separate experiments, heparin and heparan sulfate inhibited the peptide interaction in a dose-dependent manner. Using a human chondrosarcoma and a murine osteoblast cell line, heparan sulfate proteoglycans were identified as the cell surface receptors involved in the binding. Different binding syndecans were identified in the two different cell lines, indicating that the same protein core of a proteoglycan may have structural and functional differences in the attached heparan sulfate chains. Upon binding to coated peptide, cells spread, demonstrating engagement of the cytoskeleton, but no focal adhesion complex was formed. The number of cells adhering via their ß(1) integrin receptor to collagen type II or chondroadherin was profoundly and rapidly enhanced by the addition of the heparin-binding peptide. The peptide added to the cells caused ERK phosphorylation, showing that it triggered intracellular signaling. The results show that heparan sulfate chains differ between various members of the proteoglycan families on a given cell, but also differ between the same proteoglycan on different cells with a potential for differential regulation of cellular activities.

Identification and characterization of the integrin alpha2beta1 binding motif in chondroadherin mediating cell attachment.

Chondroadherin is a leucine-rich repeat protein known to mediate adhesion of isolated cells via the integrin α(2)ß(1) and to interact with collagen. In this work, we show that cell adhesion to chondroadherin leads to activation of MAPKs but does not result in cell spreading and division. This is in contrast to the spreading and dividing of cells grown on collagen, although the binding is mediated via the same α(2)ß(1) receptor. We identified a cell binding motif, CQLRGLRRWLEAK(318) by mass spectrometry after protease digestion of chondroadherin. Cells adhering to the synthetic peptide CQLRGLRRWLEAK(318) remained round, as was observed when they bound to the intact protein. The peptide added in solution was able to inhibit cell adhesion to the intact protein in a dose-dependent manner and was also verified to bind to the α(2)ß(1) integrin. A cyclic peptide, CQLRGLRRWLEAKASRPDATC(326), mimicking the structural constraints of this sequence in the intact protein, showed similar efficiency in inhibiting binding to chondroadherin. The unique peptide motif responsible for cellular binding is primarily located in the octamer sequence LRRWLEAK(318). Binding of cells to the active peptide or to chondroadherin immobilized on cell culture plates rapidly induces intracellular signaling (i.e. ERK phosphorylation). Thus, chondroadherin interaction with cells may be central for maintaining the adult chondrocyte phenotype and cartilage homeostasis. The peptides, particularly the more stable cyclic peptide, open new opportunities to modulate cell behavior in situations of tissue pathology.

The tyrosine sulfate-rich domains of the LRR proteins fibromodulin and osteoadherin bind motifs of basic clusters in a variety of heparin-binding proteins, including bioactive factors.

The small leucine-rich repeat proteins, fibromodulin and osteoadherin, have N-terminal extensions with a variable number of O-sulfated tyrosine residues. This modification combined with a number of aspartic and glutamic acid residues results in a highly negatively charged domain of less than 30 amino acids. We hypothesized that this domain shares functional properties with heparin regarding binding to proteins and polypeptides containing clusters of basic amino acids. Two other family members, PRELP and chondroadherin, have distinctly different clusters of basic amino acids in their N and C termini, respectively, and PRELP is known to bind to heparin via this domain. Another heparin-binding protein is the cytokine Oncostatin M, with a different cluster of basic amino acids in its C terminus. We used polypeptides representing these basic domains in solid phase assays and demonstrate interactions with the negatively charged N-terminal domain of fibromodulin and full-length osteoadherin. The tyrosine sulfate domains also bound heparin-binding proteins such as basic fibroblast growth factor-2, thrombospondin I, MMP13, the NC4 domain of collagen IX, and interleukin-10. Fibronectin with large heparin-binding domains did not bind, neither did CILP containing a heparin-binding thrombospondin type I motif without clustered basic amino acids. Affinity depends on the number and position of the sulfated tyrosine residues shown by different binding properties of 10-kDa fragments subfractionated by ion-exchange chromatography. These interactions may sequester growth factors, cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinases in the extracellular matrix as well as contribute to its organization.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of human chondroadherin.

Chondroadherin is a cartilage matrix protein that is known to mediate the adhesion of isolated chondrocytes. Its protein core is composed of 11 leucine-rich repeats flanked by cysteine-rich domains at the N- and C-terminal ends. Recombinant human chondroadherin was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 56.4, b = 111.3, c = 128.5 A, beta = 92.2, and are most likely to contain four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystals diffracted to at least 2.3 A using synchrotron radiation, but structure determination using molecular replacement has so far been unsuccessful.