Receptor expression and regulation was monitored by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. PTN effects and signal transduction were studied by electrophoretic mobility shift, Boyden chamber cell migration and proliferation assays, effects on gene expression by real time RT-PCR and that on nitric oxide (NO) by the Griess reaction.
Of the putative PTN signaling receptors, immortalized and primary chondrocytes (pc) expressed the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), less the receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase ζ/β (PTPζ). ALK expression was upregulated upon ligand exposure. PTN stimulation activated the AP-1 (activator protein-1) transcription factor and altered gene expression. Prolonged stimulation induced PTN mRNA expression slightly, reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA as well as NO production. Whereas mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-1 and MMP-13 was reduced, their inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were induced. Furthermore, PTN stimulated chondrocyte migration and proliferation.
These results show that PTN is an autocrine growth factor in cartilage. We suggest that PTN may be involved in the clustering and proliferation of chondrocytes observed in the early stages of OA.