Originally published as JHC exPRESS on September 6, 2007. doi:10.1369/jhc.7A7223.2007
Volume 56 (2): 89-95, 2008 Copyright ©The Histochemical Society, Inc. Immunolocalization of IL-17A, IL-17B, and Their Receptors in Chondrocytes During Fracture Healing
Center for Tissue Regeneration and Repair, Department of Orthopedics, University of California, School of Medicine, Sacramento, California Correspondence to: A. Hari Reddi, Center for Tissue Regeneration and Repair, Department of Orthopedics, University of California, School of Medicine, 4635 Second Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95817. E-mail: ahreddi{at}ucdavis.edu
Fracture healing in long bones is a sequential multistep cascade of hemostasis, transient inflammation, chemotaxis of progenitor cells, mitosis, differentiation of cartilage, and replacement with bone. This multistep cascade is orchestrated by cytokines and morphogens. Members of the interleukin (IL)-17 family, including IL-17B, have been identified in cartilage, but their expression during fracture healing is unknown. In this study, we determined the immunolocalization of cytokines IL-17A and IL-17B, along with the IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) and IL-17 receptor-like protein (IL-17RL), during the sequence of fracture repair in a standard model. The results were extended to developmental changes in the epiphyseal growth plate of long bones. Members of the IL-17 family were localized in chondrocytes in the fracture callus. Moreover, we found significant parallels to the localization of these cytokines and their receptors in chondrocytes during an endochondral differentiation program in the epiphyseal growth plate. (J Histochem Cytochem 56:89–95, 2008)
Key Words: interleukin-17B interleukin-17 receptor-like protein interleukin-17 receptor-like molecule bone chondrocyte bone development fracture healing
THE TISSUES OF the musculoskeletal system have a wide-ranging spectrum of regenerative potential. On one end of the spectrum, damaged cartilage is recalcitrant to repair. On the other end, fractured bone has considerable regenerative capacity. Fracture healing in long bones is a sequential cascade of several steps such as hemostasis, transient inflammation, chemotaxis of progenitor cells, mitosis, differentiation of cartilage, and replacement with bone. This multistep cascade is orchestrated by cytokines and morphogens. Each phase is associated with the activity of distinct cell types. In the inflammation phase, leukocytes and mast cells produce inflammatory factors and release them into the hematoma (McKibbin 1978
Interleukin (IL)-17B is a member of the IL-17 family of inflammatory cytokines (Li et al. 2000
In this study, we determined the immunolocalization of IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17 receptor (IL-17R), and IL-17 receptor-like protein (IL-17RL) during the differentiation of chondrocytes, which is an integral part of the fracture healing cascade. The regeneration of tissue in fracture healing recapitulates many of the events in cartilage and bone morphogenesis during development (Reddi 1998
Fracture Model Eight Long Evans rats were used to obtain standard closed fractures. The mean age of the rats was 12 weeks. All surgical procedures were performed under anesthesia using halothane and ketamine-xylazine. A lateral parapatellar knee incision was made to expose the distal femoral condyle, and a 1.25-mm-diameter K-wire was inserted from the trochlear groove into the femoral canal. A closed transverse femoral shaft fracture was created using a three point bending apparatus, following the method of Bonnarens and Einhorn (1984)
Rat Growth Plate
Cytokines and Antibodies
Immunohistochemistry
Characterization of Polyclonal Antibodies The specificity of the antibody against the IL-17 cytokines was confirmed by Western blotting. The antibody targeting the N terminus of IL-17B detects both the glycosylated and deglycosylated purified recombinant human IL-17B generated in yeast. There is a single band detected in bovine calf cartilage homogenate corresponding in size to the deglycosylated recombinant protein. There is no cross-reactivity with purified recombinant human IL-17A. These results are shown in Figure 1 . The antibodies against IL-17RL protein have been previously described (Haudenschild et al. 2002
Localization of IL-17 Cytokines and Receptors Endochondral Ossification During Fracture Healing A histological section of a fractured femur at 1 week after fracture showed abundant newly formed callus at the fracture site, including intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification (Figure 2A ). The endochondral ossification area consisted of primitive chondrocytes and prehypertrophic chondrocytes, sandwiched by newly formed trabecular bone and mesenchymal stromal cells in fibrous tissue (Figure 2B). Hypertrophic chondrocytes were not found at this stage, but at 2 weeks after fracture, the region of endochondral ossification was mostly filled with hypertrophic chondrocytes (Figure 3B ).
IL-17A was detected both 1 and 2 weeks after fracture and localized only in prehypertrophic chondrocytes in the middle of the endochondral ossification (Figures 2C and 3C). On the other hand, IL-17B was detected strongly in primitive and prehypertrophic chondrocytes 1 and 2 weeks after fracture (Figures 2D and 3D). Osteoblasts in the newly formed trabecular bone and mesenchymal stromal cells at the fracture site were positive for IL-17B at 2 weeks (Figure 3D). There was little IL-17B in hypertrophic chondrocytes at 2 weeks. The receptors of IL-17s were widely localized at the fracture site after 1 week. IL-17R was localized in primitive and prehypertrophic chondrocytes, osteoblasts in the trabecular bone, and mesenchymal stromal cells in the fibrous tissue (Figures 2E and 3E). The intensity of staining of IL-17R in prehypertrophic chondrocytes close to bone was slightly weaker than in the other cells. The staining pattern of IL-17RL was similar to that of IL-17R, with the exception that the localization of IL-17RL in prehypertrophic chondrocytes was barely detected (Figures 2F and 3F). The cellular distribution of the IL-17 cytokines and receptors in unfractured bone was not different from that observed in the cortical portions of bone adjacent to the fracture callous (data not shown).
Growth Plate in Rat Proximal Tibia
IL-17A was weakly localized in the prehypertrophic zone, slightly shifting to the proliferating zone across the boundary of both zones. There was little overlap between cells expressing the IL-17 cytokine and those expressing IL-17R (Figure 4C). IL-17B was localized in some but not all prehypertrophic chondrocytes and progenitors but not hypertrophic and proliferating chondrocytes (Figure 4D). The localization of IL-17 receptors was very similar to that of IL-17B. IL-17R and IL-17RL were strongly detected in both prehypertrophic chondrocytes and progenitor cells of the growth plate (Figures 4E and 4F). There was weak or no expression of the IL-17R or IL-17RL in proliferating and hypertrophic cells.
IL-17 cytokines were originally described as pro-inflammatory molecules secreted by T cells. Chronic inflammation of the synovium and progressive destruction of articular cartilage and bone are well documented in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, T cells infiltrate the synovium and secrete detectable amounts of IL-17A into the synovial fluid (Chabaud et al. 1999
The consensus in the current literature on IL-17A is that it is primarily expressed by T cells, with little or no expression in other cell types (Lubberts 2003 In the growth plate, IL-17A was detected in proliferating cells, where the receptor for IL-17A receptor was not detectable (Figure 4). A possible interpretation is that the cytokine is produced by proliferating cells and stored in the extracellular matrix to act on the cells as they reach the prehypertrophic stage when they express the receptor. This would involve an "autocrine with time-delay" mechanism. However, this is speculation, because the IL-17 cytokines were not readily detected in the extracellular matrix of the growth plate (Figure 4). Alternatively, IL-17A may act in a paracrine manner, produced by the proliferating cells and diffusing out to act on the surrounding progenitor cells and prehypertrophic cells that express the receptor.
IL-17A can be a stimulator of osteoclastogenesis through the up-regulation of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF or osteoprotegerin) (Kotake et al. 1999
IL-17B was localized in prehypertrophic chondrocytes of both the growth plate and the fracture callus. This finding is supported by the identification of IL-17B protein and mRNA in adult bovine articular cartilage (Moseley et al. 2003
IL-17R and IL-17RL localization is very similar in both fracture healing and in the tibial growth plate, which is consistent with the generation of a heterodimeric receptor complex consisting of IL-17R and IL-17RL (Toy et al. 2006
In conclusion, we described the localization of the cytokines IL-17A and IL-17B during bone fracture healing and in the epiphyseal growth plate of rats. We also examined the localization of IL-17R and IL-17RL and showed that they are localized in a very similar pattern. In general, there are very good parallels between the localization of these IL-17 cytokine and receptor molecules during fracture healing and in the growth plate. In the future, cartilage-specific gene knockouts and conditional mutants of the IL-17 signaling system in mice will shed more light on the role of IL-17A and IL-17B in embryonic chondrogenesis and in tissue regeneration. After all, tissue regeneration is, in part, a recapitulation of embryonic development and morphogenesis (Reddi 1998
This work was supported by the Lawrence J. Ellison endowment and the Lawrence J. Ellison Chair.
Received for publication February 28, 2007; accepted August 14, 2007
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