Adamts17 is involved in skeletogenesis through modulation of BMP-Smad1/5/8 pathway

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS 2019-12, Vol.76 (23), p.4795-4809
• Main Authors: Oichi, Takeshi, Taniguchi, Yuki, Soma, Kazuhito, Oshima, Yasushi, Yano, Fumiko, Mori, Yoshifumi, Chijimatsu, Ryota, Kim-Kaneyama, Joo-ri, Tanaka, Sakae, Saito, Taku
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ADAM protein; ADAMTS Proteins - genetics; ADAMTS Proteins - physiology; Animals; Bioavailability; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bone morphogenetic proteins; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - metabolism; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - pharmacology; Bones; Brachydactyly; Cell Biology; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chondrocytes; Chondrocytes - cytology; Chondrocytes - metabolism; Chondrogenesis; Eutrophication; Extracellular matrix; Fibrillin; Fibrillin-2 - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene sequencing; Growth factors; Growth plate; Life Sciences; Metatarsus; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Microfibrils; Microfibrils - metabolism; Molecular modelling; Muscle, Skeletal - growth & development; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Original; Original Article; Proteins; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Signal Transduction; Signs and symptoms; Skeletogenesis; Skin; Skin - physiopathology; Smad1 Protein - metabolism; Smad5 Protein - metabolism; Smad8 Protein - metabolism; Therapeutic applications; Thrombospondin; Transforming growth factor-b; Weill-Marchesani Syndrome - metabolism; Weill-Marchesani Syndrome - pathology; Weill-Marchesani Syndrome - veterinary
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03188-0

Fibrillin microfibrils are ubiquitous elements of extracellular matrix assemblies that play crucial roles in regulating the bioavailability of growth factors of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. Recently, several “a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs” (ADAMTS) proteins were shown to regulate fibrillin microfibril function. Among them, ADAMTS17 is the causative gene of Weill-Marchesani syndrome (WMS) and Weill-Marchesani-like syndrome, of which common symptoms are ectopia lentis and short stature. ADAMTS17 has also been linked to height variation in humans; however, the molecular mechanisms whereby ADAMTS17 regulates skeletal growth remain unknown. Here, we generated Adamts17-/- mice to examine the role of Adamts17 in skeletogenesis. Adamts17 -/- mice recapitulated WMS, showing shorter long bones, brachydactyly, and thick skin. The hypertrophic zone of the growth plate in Adamts17 -/- mice was shortened, with enhanced fibrillin-2 deposition, suggesting increased incorporation of fibrillin-2 into microfibrils. Comprehensive gene expression analysis of growth plates using laser microdissection and RNA sequencing indicated alteration of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway after Adamts17 knockout. Consistent with this, phospho-Smad1 levels were downregulated in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate and in Adamts17 -/- primary chondrocytes. Delayed terminal differentiation of Adamts17 -/- chondrocytes, observed both in primary chondrocyte and primordial metatarsal cultures, and was prevented by BMP treatment. Our data indicated that Adamts17 is involved in skeletal formation by modulating BMP-Smad1/5/8 pathway, possibly through inhibiting the incorporation of fibrillin-2 into microfibrils. Our findings will contribute to further understanding of disease mechanisms and will facilitate the development of therapeutic interventions for WMS.