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Updated: May 30, 2026

Fabrication and Characterization of Layer-By-Layer Janus Base Nano-Matrix to Promote Cartilage Regeneration
Published on: July 6, 2022
Fibronectin regulates proteoglycan production balance in transforming growth factor-β1-induced chondrogenesis
Tatsuhiko Kutsuna1, Hirofumi Inoue, Haruhiko Takeda
1Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
Abstract:
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) induce a cartilage-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) gene, aggrecan, in a chondrogenic cell line, ATDC5. The results of our recent study show that TGF-β1, but not BMP-4, strongly induces an ECM gene, fibronectin, during chondrogenesis. However, the role of fibronectin in chondrogenesis is unclear. In the current study, our results showed that TGF-β1, but not BMP-4, led to versican-dominant proteoglycan production during chondrogenesis of ATDC5 cells. siRNA-mediated reduction of fibronectin and interference in the liaison between fibronectin and integrins by the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide increased aggrecan expression, and decreased versican expression by TGF-β1 stimulation. These data suggest that fibronectin is a critical mediator for TGF-β-specific production balance of 2 major proteoglycans, aggrecan and versican, during chondrogenesis.
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