Matsunaga S, Yamamoto T, Fukumura K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Int J Oncol. 1999 Jun;14(6):1063-7. doi: 10.3892/ijo.14.6.1063.
The activities of TGF-beta and its receptors in enchondral ossification have not yet been fully elucidated. The temporal and spatial expressions of TGF-beta and its receptors were examined immunohistochemically in epiphyseal growth plate of rats, in order to clarify the roles of TGF-beta and receptors in cartilage cells during enchondral ossification. TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 were expressed from 6 to 24 weeks in resting, proliferating, and maturing zone. TGF-beta2 was expressed at 6 week, but decreased during growth. The expression of TGF-betas in hypertrophic chondrocytes was weak. TbetaR-I was co-expressed with the ligand in resting, proliferating, and maturing zone throughout the development. The expressions of TbetaR-II was recognized at 6 weeks but decreased after that. This study suggests that TGF-betas play a major role in modulating endochondral ossification during growth in epiphyseal growth plate.
