Here, we examine the molecular mechanisms regulating synovial tissue and its destructive behavior in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The synovial lining is made by the compaction of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and macrophages. In inflammatory arthritis, this lining undergoes marked hyperplasia and yields the pannus tissue that extends onto and migrates over the cartilage and degrades it. The major mesenchymal cells of the synovial lining, the FLS, are responsible for producing the destructive enzymes (MMP, MT-MMP and cathepsins) that degrade the cartilage. We found that one of the cadherins, cadherin-11, is expressed in FLS and is a major factor in their cellular adhesion and organization into a synovial lining structure. Further, this synovial cadherin plays a key role in regulating FLS migration, invasion and production of MMPs that are relevant in rheumatoid arthritis. We found that the synovial lining is hyperplastic in cadherin-11 deficts. We will do this by defining the role of cadherin-11 in regulating FLS migration (Part I) and FLS invasion (Part II). In Part I, we will determine how cadherin-11 influences integrin mediated FLS migration on extracellular matrix (ECM) (Aim 1) and how it controls FLS migration over other FLS (Aim 2). We hypothesize that cadherin-11 and its ability to bind p120catenin at its cytoplasmic tail are essential to the process by which FLS respond to potent stimuli to migrate (Aim 3). This includes a process by which FLS """"""""let go"""""""" of existing adhesion contacts by internalizing their adhesion molecules in specialized membrane ruffles, following which actin cytoskeletal reorganization extends the leading edge and pulls up the trailing edge of the cell as it moves forward. New adhesion molecule contacts form to provide attachment and traction for movement. We show how cadherin-11 participates in and regulates these steps in cell migration. Then, in Part II, we show that cadherin-11 blockade oynovium mediates joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis. ? ?

Public Health Relevance

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1 percent of the population in the U.S. and results in disabling damage to the joints of the body. Inflammation causes pain and swelling and stimulates a special tissue in the joints, called the synovium, to attack and destroy the cartilage. We found a unique molecule that holds the cells of the synovium together. When we block this molecule, it stops how the synovium causes cartilage damage in inflammatory arthritis. We are working out the mechanism by which this occurs in order to understand how to target this molecule in treating rheumatoid arthritis. ? ? ? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AR048114-06A1
Application #
7522988
Study Section
Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Study Section (ACTS)
Program Officer
Mancini, Marie
Project Start
2002-07-01
Project End
2013-06-30
Budget Start
2008-09-08
Budget End
2009-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$339,900
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Rao, Deepak A; Gurish, Michael F; Marshall, Jennifer L et al. (2017) Pathologically expanded peripheral T helper cell subset drives B cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Nature 542:110-114
Noss, Erika H; Watts, Gerald F M; Zocco, Davide et al. (2015) Evidence for cadherin-11 cleavage in the synovium and partial characterization of its mechanism. Arthritis Res Ther 17:126
Noss, Erika H; Nguyen, Hung N; Chang, Sook Kyung et al. (2015) Genetic polymorphism directs IL-6 expression in fibroblasts but not selected other cell types. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:14948-53
Gu, Zhizhan; Liu, Fei; Tonkova, Elina A et al. (2014) Soft matrix is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness. Mol Biol Cell 25:457-69
Chang, Sook Kyung; Noss, Erika H; Chen, Mei et al. (2011) Cadherin-11 regulates fibroblast inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:8402-7
Noss, Erika H; Chang, Sook Kyung; Watts, Gerald F M et al. (2011) Modulation of matrix metalloproteinase production by rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts after cadherin 11 engagement. Arthritis Rheum 63:3768-78
Gu, Zhizhan; Noss, Erika H; Hsu, Victor W et al. (2011) Integrins traffic rapidly via circular dorsal ruffles and macropinocytosis during stimulated cell migration. J Cell Biol 193:61-70
Kiener, Hans P; Watts, Gerald F M; Cui, Yajun et al. (2010) Synovial fibroblasts self-direct multicellular lining architecture and synthetic function in three-dimensional organ culture. Arthritis Rheum 62:742-52
Kiener, Hans P; Niederreiter, Birgit; Lee, David M et al. (2009) Cadherin 11 promotes invasive behavior of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Arthritis Rheum 60:1305-10
Agarwal, Sandeep K; Lee, David M; Kiener, Hans P et al. (2008) Coexpression of two mesenchymal cadherins, cadherin 11 and N-cadherin, on murine fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Arthritis Rheum 58:1044-54

Showing the most recent 10 out of 15 publications