Lecture 11 - 15 Flashcards
What are the main types of cartilage?
- hyaline
- fibro
- elastic
What is the function of Haline?
- forms articular joints = precursor for bone
What is the only cell that is found in the matrix of cartilage?
chondrocyte
What are the two key components found in articular cartilage and what is their function?
- collagen type II
- aggrecan
important for strength and support
What is the role of PG in cartilage?
PG are highly charged = attract water and form a hydrated gel
- provides resistance to compression
- results in swelling pressure (turgor)
- provides strength and support
Why are PG highly charged?
due to GAG content
What are the characteristics of chondrocytes?
- only cells in the matrix of cartilage
- large and mature
- in groups of 2-8
- rich in RER and golgi
- secrete high amounts of type II collagen and aggrecan
What are the characteristics of the ECM where chondrocytes are found?
- avascular (hypoxic)
- alymphatic
- aneuronal
What are the key transcriptional factors that MSC have to differentiate into chondrocytes?
- expression of Sox-9 = leads to Col2A expression = makes cartilage
- TGF-b
- fibroblasts growth factor (FGF)
- insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)
- parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)
What is the role of Sox-9?
induce Sox-9 to form a chondroycte and start making cartilage
How does spatial patterning of chondrocytes in bone formation occur?
orchestrated by morphogens via inductive signaling
What does inductive signalling require?
- requires morphogens passing between cells through the developing ECM
- involves members of the Hedgehog family of proteins (SHH), (DHH), (IHH), and (PTHrP).
How do IHH and PTHrP interact?
via positive feedback loops that maintain spatial chondrocyte proliferation
What makes cartilage more rigid?
hydroxyapatite with calcium makes the cartilage more rigid = rigidity expands = bone formation
What is the role of chondrocytes that keep receiving the PTHrP signal?
move to the top of the bone and keep receiving their signalling and forming cartilage only at the top of the bone
What are the key ECM breakdown events in osteoarthritis?
- Aggrecan = ADAMTS5 involved in cleaving aggrecan can be knocked out to see if arthritis develops
- Collagen = can be knocked out to see if arthritis develops
What is MMP-13?
a collagenase
What are the genetics of OA?
*GDF5 growth factor member of TGF-b family important in ECM homeostasis
*RUNX2 (6p 21.1) master transcription factor responsible for driving endochondrial ossification including MMP-13 expression
*PTHLH (12p 11.22) encodes PTHrP chondrocyte growth factor driven by IHH secretion
*SMAD3 intracellular signaling protein involved in TGF-b production
What is Rhemuatoid arthritis?
Characterised by inflammation of the synovium
progressive loss of ECM and chondrogenic phenotype in articular cartilage due to immune cell-mediated damage (genetic linkage to MHC; HLA-DR4 in particular)
What receptors activate signal transduction pathways resulting indirectly in the opening of ion channels?
- GABA B
- Muscarinic receptors
What receptors does acetylcholine bind to?
- muscarinic receptor
- nicotinic receptor
What molecules are part of G-protein coupled receptor signalling?
- adrenaline
- acetylcholine
- muscarine
- GABA B
What is the order of proteins involved in the signal transduction of a G-protein coupled receptor?
- Adrenaline
- G-protein
- Adenylyl cyclase
- cAMP
- PKA
What are the 3 key stages of signal transduction?
- an extracellular signal molecule activates a membrane receptor
- alters intracellular molecules to be transduced via a certain pathway
- activate a cellular response
What is the difference between the first messenger and the second messenger in signal transduction?
first messengers = extracellular signal molecules
secondary messengers = intracellular signal molecules
How do signal transductions occur?
membrane proteins act as transducers converting the message of extracellular signals into intracellular messenger molecules that trigger a response.
What is the difference between extracellular receptors and intracellular receptors?
Extracellular = FAST RESPONSE, hydrophilic signaling molecules activate intracellular signal transduction
Intracellular = SLOW RESPONSE, hydrophobic signaling molecules act as transcription factor in nucleus to regulate gene transcription
What are the 4 main classes of receptors?
- ligand-gated ion channel
- G-protein coupled receptors
- enzyme-linked receptors
- nuclear receptors
What are examples of the cell surface receptors and what are the time scales?
- ligand-gated = nicotinic & ACh receptor = milliseconds
- G-protein = Muscarininc & ACh receptors = seconds
- Kinase-linked = cytokine receptors = hours
What is the difference between Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors?
Ionotropic:
- form an ion channel pore
- examples = Nicotinic ACh receptors & Gaba A
Metabotropic:
- indirectly linked with ion channels on the plasma membrane through signal transduction pathways
- examples = Muscarinic & GABA B