open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/72294

Histochemical aspects of the vascular invasion at the erosion zone of the epiphyseal cartilage in MMP-9-deficient mice

英語

2013-06-19

Biomedical Research Press

Biomedical Research

34(3)

119-128

We have histologically examined vascular invasion and calcification of the hypertrophic zone during endochondral ossification in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 deficient (MMP-9-/-) mice and in their littermates at 3 days, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after birth. Capillaries and osteoclasts at the chondro-osseous junction showed an intense MMP-9 immunopositivity, suggesting that they recognize chemical properties of cartilaginous matrices, and then release MMP-9 for cartilage degradation. CD31-positive capillaries and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-reactive osteoclasts could be found in the close proximity in the region of chondro-osseous junction in MMP-9-/- mice, while in wild-type mice, vascular invasion preceded osteoclastic migration into the epiphyseal cartilage. Although MMP-9-/- mice revealed larger hypertrophic zones, the index of calcified area was significantly smaller in MMP-9-/- mice. Interestingly, the lower layer of the MMP-9-/- hypertrophic zone showed intense MMP-13 staining, which could not be observed in wild-type mice. This indicates that MMP-13 may compensate for MMP-9 deficiency at that specific region, but not to a point at which the deficiency could be completely rescued. In conclusion, it seems that MMP-9 is the optimal enzyme for cartilage degradation during endochondral ossification by controlling vascular invasion and subsequent osteoclastic migration.

学術雑誌論文

Version of Record

0388-6107

1880-313X

AA00110128