Augmented ERAD (ER-associated degradation) activity in chondrocytes is necessary for cartilage development and maintenance

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl4222
• Publication Date: 2022-01-21T19:00:23Z
• Authors: Hyo Jung Sim; Chanmi Cho; Ha Eun Kim; Ju Yeon Hong; Eun Kyung Song; Keun Yeong Kwon; Dong Gil Jang; Seok-Jung Kim; Hyun-Shik Lee; Changwook Lee; Taejoon Kwon; Siyoung Yang; Tae Joo Park
• Keywords: Endoplasmic-reticulum-associated protein degradation; Chondrogenesis

Chondrocytes secrete massive extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules that are produced, folded, and modified in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Thus, ER-associated degradation (ERAD) complex-which removes misfolded unfolded proteins to maintain proteostasis ER- plays an indispensable role building maintaining cartilage. Here, we examined necessity of ERAD complex chondrocytes for cartilage formation maintenance. We show gene expression is exponentially increased during chondrogenesis, disruption function causes severe chondrodysplasia developing embryos loss adult articular malfunction also abnormal accumulation ECM subsequent chondrodysplasia. decreased damaged from patients with osteoarthritis (OA), leads destruction a mouse OA model.