Analysis of cartilage maturation using micromass cultures of primary chondrocytes.

A micromass culture (MM-C) system of primary immature chondrocytes for functional analysis of soluble factors involved in the maturation step of cartilage was previously developed. Ectopically expressed BMP-2 was shown to induce the expression of the Ihh and Noggin genes. Here it is demonstrated that, upon longer culture, secreted bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) further promotes the maturation step as judged by the induction of type X collagen and BMP-6 expression, which are known to be detectable in the later phase of cartilage maturation. Induction of all of these genes by secreted BMP-2 was not inhibited by ectopic expression of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) induced by retrovirus vector infection, although the same virus vector showed strong inhibitory effects on the expression of type X collagen gene or alkaline phosphatase activity in mature chondrocytes. These results suggest that the maturation-promoting activity exhibited by BMP-2 is dominant over the suppressive effect of PTHrP in immature chondrocytes. When the BMP-6 gene was introduced into the same virus vector as that used for BMP-2, it induced the same sets of genes (Ihh, Noggin, type X collagen and endogenous BMP-6) as BMP-2 did. These results also suggest that BMP-6 would autonomously maintain and/or promote a later stage of chondrocytic maturation.