Expressions of local renin-angiotensin system components in chondrocytes

In 2013, we reported that local renin-angiotensin system (local RAS) components express during the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes and can modulate it, using ATDC5 cell line that involves differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells to calcified hypertrophic chondrocytes. However, the expressions of local RAS components in normal chondrocytes have not been revealed yet. The purpose of this study is to examine the expression of the local RAS components in chondrocytes in vivo and the conditions allowing the expression. We stained five major regions of 8-week-old C57BL/6 adult mice in which chondrocytes exist, including epiphyseal plates and hyaline cartilages, with antibodies to local RAS components. We also examined the expression of local RAS components in the cultured bovine’s articular cartilage chondrocytes using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. In result, hypertrophic chondrocytes of epiphyseal plates included in the tibia and the lamina terminals expressed local RAS components. However, hyaline chondrocytes, including the knee articular cartilages, the parenchyma of nasal septums and of the tracheal walls, did not express local RAS components. Cultured bovine’s articular cartilage chondrocytes also did not express local RAS components. However, inducing hypertrophy by administering interleukin-1β or tumor necrosis factor-α, the cultured articular chondrocytes also expressed angiotensin II type 1 receptor and angiotensin II type 2 receptor. In conclusion, local RAS components express particularly in chondrocytes which occur hypertrophy and do not in hyaline chondrocytes. The results are in accord with our previous in vitro study. We think this novel knowledge is important to investigate cartilage hypertrophy and diseases induced by hypertrophic changes like osteoarthritis.