Abstract
Objective: To investigate the impact of deleting Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS)-3 (SOCS3) in chondrocytes during murine skeletal development. Method: Mice with a conditional Socs3 allele (Socs3fl/fl) were crossed with a transgenic mouse expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the type II collagen promoter (Col2a1) to generate Socs3Δ/Δcol2 mice. Skeletal growth was analyzed over the lifespan of Socs3Δ/Δcol2 mice and controls by detailed histomorphology. Bone size and cortical bone development was evaluated by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Growth plate (GP) zone width, chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by immunofluorescence staining for Ki67 and TUNEL. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 (FGFR3) signaling in the GP was assessed by immunohistochemistry, while the effect of SOCS3 overexpression on FGFR3-driven pMAPK signaling in HEK293T cells was evaluated by Western blot. Results: Socs3Δ/Δcol2 mice of both sexes were consistently smaller compared to littermate controls throughout life. This phenotype was due to reduced long bone size, poor cortical bone development, reduced Ki67+ proliferative chondrocytes and decreased proliferative zone (PZ) width in the GP. Expression of pMAPK, but not pSTAT3, was increased in the GPs of Socs3Δ/Δcol2 mice relative to littermate controls. Overexpression of FGFR3 in HEK293T cells increased Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 (FGF18)-dependent Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, while concomitant expression of SOCS3 reduced FGFR3 expression and abrogated MAPK signaling. Conclusion: Our results suggest a potential role for SOCS3 in GP chondrocyte proliferation by regulating FGFR3-dependent MAPK signaling in response to FGF18.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1557-1563 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Osteoarthritis and Cartilage |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2019 |
Keywords
- Bone and skeleton
- Cartilage
- Chondrocytes