The analysis between degeneration of chondrocytes in Osteoarthritis and DNA repair enzyme APEX2.

• Project/Area Number: 24592286
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: St. Marianna University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: YUI NAOKO 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20266696)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YUDOH Kazuo 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (60272928) ; KARASAWA Rie 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学研究科, 講師 (50424410) ; 唐澤 里江 聖マリアンナ医科大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (50434410)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,200,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
• Keywords: 変形性関節症 / 軟骨細胞 / ＤＮＡ修復酵素 / 酸化ストレス / DNA修復酵素 / 変性 / ＡＰＥＸ２

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Apex 2　plays a critical role in DNA　repair caused by oxidative damage in a variety of human somatic cells. We speculated　that chondrocyte Apex 2 may protect against the catabolic process of articular cartilage in　osteoarthritis (OA). Higher levels of Apex 2 expression were histologically observed in　severely compared with mildly degenerated OA cartilage from STR/OrtCrlj mice, The immunopositivity of Apex 2　was significantly correlated with the degree of cartilage degeneration. Moreover, interleukin-1β induced the expression of Apex 2 in　chondrocytes, while Apex 2 silencing using small interfering RNA reduced chondrocyte　activity in vitro. Our findings suggest that Apex 2 may have the potential to prevent the catabolic stress-mediated down-regulation of chondrocyte activity in OA.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The DNA Repair Enzyme Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease (Apex Nuclease) 2 Has the Potential to Protect against Down-Regulation of Chondrocyte Activity in Osteoarthritis (2014)
  • Author(s): 油井直子
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Molecular Sciences Volume: 15 Issue: 9 Pages: 14921-14934
  • DOI: 10.3390/ijms150914921
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] DNA repair enzyme Apurinic/Apyrimidinic Endonuclease 2 (APEX2) has a potential to protect against the down-regulation of chondrocyte activity in osteoarthritis (2014)
  • Author(s): 油井直子
  • Organizer: 国際変形性関節症学会 (OARSI 2014)
  • Place of Presentation: The Center of New Industries and Technologies （フランス・パリ）
  • Year and Date: 2014-04-24 – 2014-04-27