Modulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling inhibits the onset and progression of ankylosing enthesitis
Rik J.U. Lories, … , Inge Derese, Frank P. Luyten
Rik J.U. Lories, … , Inge Derese, Frank P. Luyten
Published June 1, 2005
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2005;115(6):1571-1579. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI23738.
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Research Article Bone biology

Modulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling inhibits the onset and progression of ankylosing enthesitis

Abstract

Joint ankylosis is a major cause of disability in the human spondyloarthropathies. Here we report that this process partially recapitulates embryonic endochondral bone formation in a spontaneous model of arthritis in DBA/1 mice. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling appears to be a key molecular pathway involved in this pathological cascade. Systemic gene transfer of noggin, a BMP antagonist, is effective both as a preventive and a therapeutic strategy in the mouse model, mechanistically interfering with enthesial progenitor cell proliferation in early stages of the disease process. Immunohistochemical staining for phosphorylated smad1/5 in enthesial biopsies of patients with spondyloarthropathy reveals active BMP signaling in similar target cells. Our data suggest that BMP signaling is an attractive therapeutic target for interfering with structural changes in spondyloarthropathy either as an alternative or complementary approach to current antiinflammatory treatments.

Authors

Rik J.U. Lories, Inge Derese, Frank P. Luyten

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Noggin gene transfer influenced severity of established arthritis. DBA/1...
Noggin gene transfer influenced severity of established arthritis. DBA/1 mice were treated with noggin cDNA injection or empty vector immediately (A–B) or 10 days (C–D) after the first signs of arthritis had appeared. Disease progression, defined as the difference in clinical score between the beginning and the end of the experiment, was significantly reduced after noggin gene transfer as compared with that in empty vector controls. *Mann-Whitney U test; P < 0.05, 3 weeks after injection. In B and D, individual clinical scores before and after treatment are shown.