engleski

The effect of trefoil factor family peptide 3 (TFF3) on the formation of cancellous bone in the secondary centers of ossification

Although not present in healthy articular cartilage, TFF3 is expressed in osteoarthritis and septic arthritis affected cartilage and promotes cartilage degradation in such conditions. Also, TFF3 is present in endochondral ossification during embryonic development. Since this implies a role for TFF3 in the ossification process, we evaluated the histomorphometric parameters of the epyphiseal growth plate and trabecular bone in the secondary ossification centers of mouse tibiae from wild type mice and TFF3 knock-out mice. Wild-type and TFF3 knock-out mice tibiae were isolated, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded into paraffin blocks. Tibiae were cut into 6µm sections, and stained using Masson’s trichrome stain. Digital photographs were taken for histomorphometry of the epiphyseal growth plate and cancellous bone. No significant histomorphological differences between wild-type mice and TFF3 knockout mice were found in epiphyseal plate thickness, in the thickness of different zones of endochondral ossification, and in the chondrocyte density. However, cancellous bone in the secondary ossification centers of mouse tibial epiphyses showed significantly lower volume density, surface density and trabecular number, while trabecular separation was significantly higher. Trabecular thickness did not differ significantly. While obviously not crucial for the early stages of endochondral ossification, TFF3 probably has an important effect on the formation and quality of the cancellous bone in the secondary ossification centers.

Trefoil factor; bone; osteogenesis; mice

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