Microarray Analysis of Defective Cartilage in Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-Transgenic Mice

OBJECTIVE: Homeobox genes of the Hox class are required for proper patterning of skeletal elements and play a role in cartilage differentiation. In transgenic mice with overexpression of Hoxc8 and Hoxd4 during cartilage development, the authors observed severe defects, namely, physical instability of cartilage, accumulation of immature chondrocytes, and decreased maturation to hypertrophy. To define the molecular basis underlying these defects, the authors performed gene expression profiling using the Affymetrix microarray platform. RESULTS: Primary chondrocytes were isolated from Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-transgenic mouse embryo rib cartilage at 18.5 days of gestation. In both cases, differentially expressed genes were identified that have a role in cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation. A comparison between the controls for both experimental groups did not reveal significant differences, as expected. However, the repertoires of differentially expressed genes were found not to overlap between Hoxc8- and Hoxd4-transgenic cartilage. This included different Wnt genes, cell cycle, and apoptosis regulators. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of Hoxc8 and Hoxd4 transcription factors alters transcriptional profiles in chondrocytes at E18.5. The differences in repertoires of altered gene expression between the 2 transgenic conditions suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the cartilage defects may be different in both transgenic paradigms, despite apparently similar phenotypes.