The alteration of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) in the knee joints of osteoarthritis mice

Background: To clarify the expression and distribution of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2 and ADAMTS5 in knee joints of osteoarthritis (OA) mice. Methods: OA was established via anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) on the knee joints of C57BL/6J mice. The morphology change of OA was analyzed by Micro-CT. Histologic analysis was used to evaluate symptomatic change in articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to analyze mRNA expressions of ADAMTS family in bone-related tissues and cells. Immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the expressions and distributions of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2, and ADAMTS5, as well as the condition of inflammation of OA.Results: Cartilage deterioration, significant reduction of collagen and proteoglycan components in the cartilage matrix happened in ACLT-induced OA mice, along with increased inflammatory response and osteoclast activity. Among ADAMTS, the gene expression levels of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2 and ADAMTS5 were ranked top 5 in cartilage/chondrocytes, osteogenic tissue/osteoblasts and cortical bone/osteocytes. After ACLT surgery, the expressions of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2 and ADAMTS5 all increased in articular cartilage, growth plate and subchondral bone of knee joints. Conclusion: The enhanced expressions of ADAMTS1, ADAMTS2 and ADAMTS5 after ACLT surgery provide a further understanding in degenerative change of OA.