Originally published as JHC exPRESS on September 17, 2007. doi:10.1369/jhc.7A7263.2007
Volume 55 (12): 1245-1255, 2007 Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc. Gene Expression and Distribution of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CCN2/CTGF) During Secondary Ossification Center Formation
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry (MO,SKubota,SKondo,TE,CK,KK,MT) and Department of Occlusal and Oral Functional Rehabilitation (MO,CK,KK), Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Dental School, Okayama, Japan Correspondence to: Masaharu Takigawa, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8525, Japan. E-mail: takigawa{at}md.okayama-u.ac.jp
CCN2/connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF) is a critical signaling modulator of mesenchymal tissue development. This study investigated the localization and expression of CCN2/CTGF as a factor supporting angiogenesis and chondrogenesis during development of secondary ossification centers in the mouse tibial epiphysis. Formation of the secondary ossification center was initiated by cartilage canal formation and blood vessel invasion at 7 days of age, and onset of ossification was observed at 14 days. In situ hybridization showed that CCN2/CTGF mRNA was distinctively expressed in the region of the cartilage canal and capsule-attached marginal tissues at 7 days of age, and distinct expression was also observed in proliferating chondrocytes around the marrow space at 14 days of age. Immunostaining showed that CCN2/CTGF was distributed broadly around the expressed cells located in the central region of the epiphysis, where the chondrocytes become hypertrophic and the cartilage canal enters into the hypertrophic mass. Furthermore, an overlapping distribution of metalloproteinase (MMP)9 and CCN2/CTGF was found in the secondary ossification center. These findings suggest that the CCN2/CTGF is involved in establishing epiphyseal vascularization and remodeling, which eventually determines the secondary ossification center in the developing epiphysial cartilage. (J Histochem Cytochem 55:1245–1255, 2007)
Key Words: CCN2 connective tissue growth factor secondary ossification center CCN family endochondral ossification
CCN2/CONNECTIVE TISSUE GROWTH FACTOR (CTGF) is a cysteine-rich extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated protein of 36–38 kDa. It belongs to the CCN family that consists of six distinct members (CTGF/Fisp12/Hcs24/CCN2, Cyr61/Cef10/CCN1, Nov/CCN3, ELM-1/WISP-1/CCN4, rCOP-1/WISP-2/CTGF-3/CCN5, and WISP-3/CCN6) (Bork 1993
Previously, a cDNA specific in a human chondrosarcoma–derived cell line, HCS-2/8 (Takigawa et al. 1989
The secondary ossification center is a feasible target for the study of the integrated function of CCN2/CTGF in mesenchymal tissues, because its formation involves various types of CCN2/CTGF producing/target cells (i.e., chondrocytes, osteoblasts, vascular endothelial cells) that support epiphyseal vascularization and endochondral ossification process. The formation of the secondary ossification center begins morphologically with cartilage canal formation, which is associated with peripheral vascular proliferation that invaginates from the perichondrium. This process provides a physical and biological background to support and nourish the joints that are exposed to mechanical stress immediately after birth, whereas the primary ossification center is engaged in longitudinal bone growth. Therefore, these two ossification centers play distinct roles in skeletal development through similar, but different, biological processes. Notably, subsequent ossification, which is characterized by disintegration of hypertrophic chondrocyte and formation of bone trabeculae accompanied by vascular invasion, takes place adjacent to preexisting cartilage canals (Karaplis 2002 This study investigated the temporal and spatial gene expression and localization of CCN2/CTGF during the formation of the secondary ossification center and determined that CCN2/CTGF collaborates with other molecules in establishing epiphyseal vascularization. These data suggest that CCN2/CTGF is therefore involved in establishing epiphyseal vascularization, as well as determining and developing the secondary ossification center in the mouse tibia.
Tissue Preparation To prepare samples for immunostaining and in situ hybridization, 20 mice at 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days postnatal were killed. Knee joints with the surrounding soft tissues were dissected and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M PBS (pH 7.4), decalcified with 10% EDTA, and embedded in paraffin according to an established procedure. Longitudinal sections of 7.0 µm thickness were cut on a microtome and mounted on slide glasses. The sections were stored at 4C until subsequent use. The Animal Committee of Okayama University Dental School approved all of the procedures.
Immunostaining
Confocal Laser-scanning Microscopy
Preparation of Probes for In Situ Hybridization
In Situ Hybridization
Developmental Time Course of the Secondary Ossification Center in Mouse Tibiae Initially, the secondary ossification center formation process was monitored before the study of stage-specific distribution of CCN2/CTGF, after a postnatal time course. At 1 day, the developing tibial epiphysis was mostly composed of resting cartilage (Figure 1A ), and a cartilage canal was not yet present. However, in the superficial layer, chondrocytes adjacent to the capsule attachment tended to be proliferating. At 7 days of age, the chondrocytes in the central region of the epiphysis became hypertrophic, expressing type X collagen (Figure 2E ). At the same time, the cartilage canal formed by an invagination from the perichondrium was observed with the growth of the epiphysis in the horizontal direction (Figure 3A ). At this stage, fibrovascular proliferation started from the perichondrium close to the capsule attachment. The canal space was continuously lined by endothelial cells and was filled with a number of immature vasculatures (Figure 3D). Hypertrophic chondrocytes and resorption cartilage appeared around the cartilage canal and were particularly prominent near the canal blind end. At 14 days of age, the marrow space increased in size with the resorption of the hypertrophic chondrocytes, and a secondary ossification center was observed with the formation of thin bone trabeculae (Figure 4A ). Along the boundary of the articular cartilage and secondary ossification center, an immature but polarized growth plate–like structure with continuously aligned chondrocytes was observed, but no such structure was observed at the metaphysial side of the marrow space (Figure 4B). Consistent with this histological feature, chondrocytes expressing type X collagen were observed only along the articular side of the ossification center (Figure 4J). Finally, at 28 days of age, the ossification center expanded, and the walls of marrow cavity were formed by thick bone trabeculae (Figure 5A ). Groups of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the central region of the epiphysis were mostly replaced by bone marrow except at the marginal region of both lateral sides. At this stage, the formation of articular cartilage and the epiphyseal plate can be eventually clearly distinguished.
Expression of ccn2/ctgf and Distribution of CCN2/CTGF During Cartilage Canal Invasion The spatiotemporal patterns of CCN2/CTGF expression were examined during the formation of the ossification center by in situ hybridization. Initially (1 day of age), ccn2/ctgf was expressed in perichondrium adjacent to the capsule attachment, in the capsule itself, and in a zone of proliferating cartilage of the future epiphyseal plate before the cartilage canal invasion (Figures 1D, 1E, and 1I). No signals were yet observed in the central region of the epiphysis. At 7 days of age, ccn2/ctgf was strongly expressed in the region of cartilage canal and capsule-attached marginal cartilage (Figures 2B and 3B). The signals were detected in the cells adjacent to cartilage canal and were located at the center of the hypertrophic region of the epiphysis (Figure 2G). Most signals in chondrocytes were from those juxtaposing the cartilage canal, and distinct signals were also observed in the endothelial cell on walls of the cartilage canal (Figure 3I). It should be noted that chondrocytes expressing ccn2/ctgf were located in the areas facing toward, but distinct from those chondrocytes expressing type X collagen. Immunostaining of the serial sections showed that CCN2/CTGF molecules were distributed in a different pattern from that of the mRNA. At 1 day of age, positive staining was observed in the proliferating chondrocytes of the superficial layer adjacent to the capsule attachment and perichondrium (Figure 1F). At 7 days of age, CCN2/CTGF protein was detected broadly in both proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes around the cartilage canal and the area of blood vessel invasion (Figures 2F and 3G). Positive signals were also present in endothelial cells in the cartilage canal (Figure 3K). A confocal laser-scanning microscopic analysis showed that CCN2/CTGF was localized in both the pericellular matrix and the nuclei of the chondrocytes adjacent to the cartilage canal (Figure 2K). In contrast, at a zone of proliferating cartilage of the future epiphyseal plate, CCN2/CTGF protein was broadly detected from proliferating chondrocytes to hypertrophic chondrocytes over the ones expressing type X collagen. The chondrocytes expressing ccn2/ctgf were detected in the areas facing toward but distinct from those chondrocytes expressing type X collagen (Figures 1I–1K). A confocal laser-scanning microscopic analysis showed that CCN2/CTGF was principally present in the pericellular matrix of proliferating chondrocytes of the future epiphyseal plate with a few signals in the nuclei (Figure 2N). This localization and gene expression pattern of CCN2/CTGF in the epiphyseal plate and its prototype was maintained throughout the observation period.
Expression of ccn2/ctgf and Distribution of CCN2/CTGF During Development of the Secondary Ossification Center
Production of MMP9 in the Cartilage Canal and Secondary Ossification Center in Early Stages of Secondary Ossification Center Formation
This study clarified that CCN2/CTGF exhibits highly dynamic patterns of expression that are temporally and spatially restricted during postnatal formation of the secondary ossification center in mouse long bones. These expression patterns suggest that the factor is engaged in establishing epiphyseal vascularization and remodeling of the secondary ossification center. These experiments showed that theCCN2/CTGF protein was present at three sites: the surface of the epiphysis, proliferating and hypertrophic layers in the growth plate and secondary ossification center, and articular cartilage. At these sites, relatively immature chondrocytes expressing ccn2/ctgf were localized in the areas facing to, but distinct from, those of chondrocytes accumulating CCN2/CTGF and expressing type X collagen. This suggests CCN2/CTGF to be associated with the terminal differentiation and ossification of these chondrocytes, which is consistent with the findings on CCN2/CTGF during endochondral ossification at the growth plate. The expression pattern of ccn2/ctgf in the secondary ossification center, however, is different from that at growth plate in the diaphysis. First, the strongest ccn2/ctgf expression occurs in relatively immature chondrocytes, in contrast to the prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate. Second, ccn2/ctgf is expressed in the cells adjacent to cartilage canal formation, which is uniquely observed in secondary ossification formation. Because CCN2/CTGF is a matrix-associated secreted protein, it either stays at the site of production for a long time or can be transported away to execute functions elsewhere. Interestingly, CCN2/CTGF accumulated in the central region of the mouse tibial epiphysis, where chondrocytes become hypertrophic, and the cartilage canals pass into the hypertrophic cell mass to supply the mesenchymal cells for bone formation. This spatiotemporal expression and distribution pattern suggests that CCN2/CTGF is therefore related, not only to chondrocyte proliferation, but also to epiphyseal vascularization remodeling.
There is significant evidence indicating that CCN2/CTGF plays a role in the regulation of the endothelial cell function and angiogenesis. CCN2/CTGF regulates the production and/or activity or other angiogenic molecules, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (Inoki et al. 2002
It should be noted that CCN2/CTGF may also affect ECM stability or integrity. CCN2/CTGF increases the expression of an MMP in vascular endothelial cells (Kondo et al. 2002
After serial changes during the development of the ossification center, ccn2/ctgf expression decreased along the diffuse ossification of the epiphysis, whereas immunostaining for CCN2/CTGF remained strong in proliferating and hypertrophic chondrocytes for a long time. It has been widely recognized that CCN2/CTGF is an ECM-associated growth factor, which is best represented by the fact that heparan sulfate proteoglycans were critically required for CCN2/CTGF to exert its function (Gao and Brigstock 2004 In conclusion, CCN2/CTGF first accumulated at the center of mouse tibial epiphysis on formation of the cartilage canal. Thereafter, it was distributed at the locations toward the secondary ossification center development. There was also an overlapping distribution of MMP-9 and CCN2/CTGF in the secondary ossification center. These findings suggest that CCN2/CTGF is an important factor for establishing epiphyseal vascularization in determining the secondary ossification center formation, together with MMP9.
This work was supported in part by the Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (to MO), The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan, and the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S) (to MT) and (C) (to SK) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences. The authors thank Drs. Takashi Nishida and Kumiko Nawachi and Harumi Kawaki for valuable comments and suggestions.
Received for publication April 17, 2007; accepted August 17, 2007
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