This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jhc.7A7245.2007v1 55/12/1213    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johansen, J. S. Articles by Møllgård, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johansen, J. S. Articles by Møllgård, K. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

YKL-40 Protein Expression in the Early Developing Human Musculoskeletal System

Julia S. Johansen, Poul E. Høyer, Lars A. Larsen, Paul A. Price and Kjeld Møllgård

Department of Rheumatology, Herlev Hospital (JSJ) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Developmental Biology Unit, The Panum Institute (PEH,KM) and Wilhelm Johannsen Centre for Functional Genome Research (LAL), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Department of Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California (PAP)

Correspondence to: Julia S. Johansen, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Q-107, Herlev Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK-2730 Herlev, Denmark. E-mail: julia.johansen{at}post3.tele.dk

YKL-40 is a growth factor for chondrocytes and fibroblasts. The aim was to evaluate YKL-40 expression in the musculoskeletal system during early human development. We studied sections from 15 human embryos [weeks 5.5–8; 7- to 31-mm crown-rump length (CRL)] and 68 fetuses (weeks 9–14; 33- to 105-mm CRL) for YKL-40 protein expression by immunohistochemistry. YKL-40 mRNA expression was evaluated in two human embryos (days 41 and 51). Initially YKL-40 is expressed in all germ layers: ecto-, meso-, and endoderm. YKL-40 mRNA and protein expression are found in tissues of the ecto-, meso-, and endoderm, and YKL-40 protein expression is present during development of cartilage, bone, joints, and muscles. At the cellular level, YKL-40 protein expression is high in tissues characterized by rapid proliferation, marked differentiation, and undergoing morphogenetic changes. Examples of rapid cell proliferation include the chondrogenic inner layer of perichondrium and the osteogenic inner layer of periosteum. Differences in YKL-40 expression during differentiation are found in the chondrogenic and osteogenic cell lineages. The initial shaping of cartilage and bone models and joints is concomitant with a strong outline of YKL-40–positive cells. This indicates that YKL-40 is associated with cell proliferation, differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis during development of the human musculoskeletal system. (J Histochem Cytochem 55:1213–1228, 2007)

Key Words: CHI3L1 • chondrogenesis • joint development • myogenesis • skeletogenesis • YKL-40

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. M. Henningsen, S. K. Therkelsen, J. S. Johansen, H. Bruunsgaard, and J. H. Svendsen Plasma YKL-40, a new biomarker for atrial fibrillation? Europace, May 2, 2009; (2009) eup103v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Johansen, S. E. Bojesen, A. K. Mylin, R. Frikke-Schmidt, P. A. Price, and B. G. Nordestgaard Elevated Plasma YKL-40 Predicts Increased Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Decreased Survival After Any Cancer Diagnosis in the General Population J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2009; 27(4): 572 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Nielsen, C. Erikstrup, J. S. Johansen, C. P. Fischer, P. Plomgaard, R. Krogh-Madsen, S. Taudorf, B. Lindegaard, and B. K. Pedersen Plasma YKL-40: A BMI-Independent Marker of Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes, November 1, 2008; 57(11): 3078 - 3082. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Guidelines | Subscriptions | About | exPRESS - Current - Archive | Business Information | Contact

The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry is owned, published, and licensed by The Histochemical Society © 2007