Delta-like 2 negatively regulates chondrogenic differentiation

Delta-like 2 (Dlk2), a glycoprotein highly homologous to Dlk1, belongs to the Notch/Delta/Serrata family. Dlk2 has been shown to be an important regulator of adipogenesis; however, its role in other cellular differentiation processes is still unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the role of Dlk2 in chondrogenic differentiation. We found that Dlk2 overexpression promoted the growth of ATDC5 cells but inhibited insulin-induced ATDC5 chondrogenic differentiation, as supported by the reduction in cartilage matrix formation and gene expression of aggrecan (acan), collagentype II (col2a1) and X (col10a1). In contrast, Dlk2 silencing inhibited the proliferation of ATDC5 cells but enhanced their chondrogenic differentiation. We then evaluated the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are activated by insulin during the chondrogenesis of ATDC5 cells. Overexpression of Dlk2 protein strongly promoted the activation of p38, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, as expected, Dlk2 silencing inhibited the activation of p38, but had no effect on the ERK1/2 and JNK pathways. Finally, we also detected the expression of Dlk2 in mouse epiphyseal cartilage during embryo development. The expression of the Dlk2 protein in the limb bud could be detected at embryonic day 11.5; additionally, it was found to decrease in the superficial zones, but remained unchanged in the deep/hypertrophic zones. In conclusion, our results suggested that Dlk2 acted as an important regulator of chondrogenesis through the p38 pathway. These findings may lead to strategies for the treatment of cartilage-related diseases such as osteoarthritis.