Expression of Dvl2 and β-Catenin in Natural Degeneration Process of Osteoarthritis Articular Cartilage

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression changes of dishevelled (Dvl) and β-catenin in natural degeneration process of osteoarthritis(OA) articular cartilage. METHODS The articular chondrocytes from the patients with OA who underwent knee replacement were isolated and cultured in vitro. Using natural passage way to create a model of articular cartilage degeneration. The morphological of articular cartilage cells were observed under inverted microscope and the apoptosis of chondrocytes were detected by flow cytometry. Use Q-PCR and Western blot to test the genes and proteins expression of Dvl2 and β-catenin. RESULTS Successfully isolated and cultured OA articular chondrocytes in vitro. The articular chondrocytes of P2 generation was triangular or polygonal; morphological was fusiform of P6 generation, and appeared significant fibrosis. Apoptosis rate of P6 generation was significantly higher than P2 generation(16.34% vs 8.63%). P2 generation's Dvl2 mRNA relative expression levels was P6 generation's 3.629-fold (P=0.004), and protein expression levels was 2.548-fold(P=0.03); β-catenin mRNA relative expression levels was P6 generation's 5.087-fold (P=0.001), and protein expression levels was 4.4-fold (P=0.003). CONCLUSION In the process of OA articular chondrocytes natural degeneration in vitro, apoptosis is increased and Dvl2 and β-catenin expression are declining. The function of Dvl and Wnt/β-catenin in chondrocytes requires further study.