Cell cycle progression is disrupted in murine MPS VII growth plate leading to reduced chondrocyte proliferation and transition to hypertrophy.
Description
Endochondral bone growth is abnormal in 6 of the 11 types of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) disorders; resulting in short stature, reduced size of the thoracic cavity and compromised manual dexterity. Current therapies for MPS have had a limited effect on bone growth and to develop adjunct approaches requires an improved understanding of the underlying basis of abnormal bone growth in MPS. The MPS VII mouse model replicates the reduction in long bone and vertebral length observed in human MPS. Using this model we have shown that the growth plate is elongated but contains fewer chondrocytes in the proliferative and hypertrophic zones. Endochondral bone growth is in part regulated by entry and exit from the cell cycle by growth plate chondrocytes. More MPS VII chondrocytes were positive for Ki67, a marker for active phases of the cell cycle, suggesting that more MPS VII chondrocytes were in the cell cycle. Expression of phosphorylated histone H3 was significantly reduced in MPS VII chondrocytes, suggesting less MPS VII chondrocytes progressed to mitotic division. While MPS VII HZ chondrocytes continued to express cyclin D1 and phosphorylated pRb, less MPS VII HZ chondrocytes expressed a marker of cell cycle exit p57kip2, suggesting fewer MPS VII chondrocytes were able to exit the cell cycle. In addition, multiple markers typical of PZ to HZ transition were not downregulated in MPS VII, in particular Sox9, Pthrpr and Wnt5a. These findings are consistent with MPS VII growth plates elongating at a slower rate than normal due to a delay in progression through the cell cycle leading to both reduced cell division and transition to the hypertrophic phenotype.