Li T, Xiao J, Wu Z, Qiu G
Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
J Int Med Res. 2009 Jan-Feb;37(1):129-35. doi: 10.1177/147323000903700115.
The c-maf gene expression profile was investigated in normal and osteoarthritic articular cartilage using in situ hybridization, qualitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Osteoarthritic samples were obtained from 10 patients undergoing total knee replacement for severe osteoarthritis of the knee joints, and control samples from 10 trauma patients undergoing amputation. Expression of c-maf was significantly up-regulated in osteoarthritic cartilage compared with normal cartilage. Using in situ hybridization, distribution of a specific c-maf mRNA signal was found in the top zone and a decreased signal was found in the lower middle zone and the deep zone in osteoarthritic cartilage. A prominent c-maf mRNA signal was seen particularly in proliferating 'chondrocyte clusters'. In contrast, in normal cartilage almost no c-maf-positive cells were found. These findings suggest that c-maf may be important in chondrocyte hypertrophy and terminal differentiation, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
采用原位杂交、定性逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和定量实时RT-PCR技术，对正常和骨关节炎关节软骨中的c-maf基因表达谱进行了研究。骨关节炎样本取自10例因膝关节严重骨关节炎接受全膝关节置换术的患者，对照样本取自10例接受截肢手术的创伤患者。与正常软骨相比，骨关节炎软骨中c-maf的表达明显上调。通过原位杂交发现，在骨关节炎软骨的表层区域存在特定的c-maf mRNA信号分布，而在中下层和深层区域信号减弱。尤其在增殖的“软骨细胞簇”中可见明显的c-maf mRNA信号。相比之下，在正常软骨中几乎未发现c-maf阳性细胞。这些发现表明，c-maf可能在软骨细胞肥大和终末分化中起重要作用，并且可能参与骨关节炎的发病机制。
