CONNECTIVE TISSUE GROWTH FACTOR IS REQUIRED FOR CHONDROGENESIS

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) is expressed by mesenchymal cells during development. Mice genetically deficient in CCN2 display severe bone defects and die immediately after birth. The molecular basis of this defect is not known. We've used in vitro models of chondrogenesis to show that CCN2 expression is induced during chondrogenesis, paralleling induction of known early chondrogenic markers (sox9, sox6, l-sox5, type II collagen, aggrecan, decorin and link protein). Real-Time PCR, Western blot and Immunofluorescence reveal that CCN2 is required for the early stages of chondrogenesis, including expression of sox6 and aggrecan, but not type II collagen. Furthermore, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was found to be an upstream mediator of CCN2 expression and the absence of FAK promotes the process of chondrogenesis. Therefore, CCN2 is required for early chondrogenic events, downstream of FAK and is responsible for regulating components of the chondrogenic extracellular matrix.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physiology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Pala, Daphne

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Leask, Andrew
• Beier, Frank

• Chondrogenesis
• Connective Tissue Growth Factor
• Sox6
• Aggrecan
• Type II Collagen
• Focal Adhesion Kinase
• Gene Expression
• Extracellular Matrix

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/20338

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/20338