HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tibesku, C O Articles by Fuchs, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tibesku, C O Articles by Fuchs, S

Expression of the matrix receptor CD44v5 on chondrocytes changes with osteoarthritis: an experimental investigation in the rabbit

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital Muenster, Germany
² Clinical Anatomy, Institute of Anatomy, Westfalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Germany

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr C O Tibesku
Klinik für Orthopädie und Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinikum Giessen und Marburg, Standort Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany; carsten{at}tibesku.de

ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the expression of CD44v5 on chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage during the course of osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In 12 white New Zealand rabbits the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was resected to create an anterior instability of the knee. In 12 control rabbits only a sham operation without resection of the ACL was done. Four animals of each group were killed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks. The loadbearing area was evaluated histologically according to Mankin and by immunostaining for CD44v5.

Results: In the trial group, histological grades of OA showed a positive linear correlation with the time after surgery. Immunostaining showed an increased expression of CD44v5 in the control group after 3 and 6 weeks, which dropped to normal after 12 weeks. There was no difference between control and trial groups after 3 and 6 weeks, but a difference was seen after 12 weeks. A significant positive correlation between CD44v5 expression and the histological grade of OA was found (r = 0.314).

Conclusions: An in vivo increase of expression of the hyaluronan receptor CD44v5 occurs during the course of OA. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether this pattern applies to man and whether new treatment approaches might evolve from this knowledge.

Abbreviations: ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; OA, osteoarthritis

Keywords: CD44; animal experiments; osteoarthritis