FIGURE 3.
Hdac7 deficiency increases active β-catenin levels and chondrocyte proliferation. A–N, immature mouse articular chondrocytes from Hdac7Col2ERT mice were cultured in micromass and infected with Ad-GFP or Ad-Cre on day 0. A, Western blotting for the indicated proteins was performed on day 3. This experiment was repeated three times, and data from a representative experiment are shown. B, micromasses were fixed on day 3 and stained with Alcian blue. Relative expression levels of (C) Hdac7, (D) Sox9, (E) Type 2a1 collagen, (F) Ihh, (G) Runx2, (H) Vegf, (I) Aggrecan, (J) Type X collagen, (K) Cyclin D3, (L) p21, (M) Lef1, and (N) Axin2 were assayed by qPCR. *, p < 0.05 compared with control. These data are the average of three independent experiments. O and P, 4-week-old Hdac7Col2ERT mice were injected with vehicle (n = 4) or tamoxifen (n = 5). O, paraffin-embedded sections of tibias were incubated with an IgG isotype control antibody (left column) or an antibody that recognizes p21 (right column). Shown are representative 40× images of the growth plate. P, paraffin-embedded sections of tibias were incubated with an IgG isotype control antibody (left column) or an antibody that recognizes unphosphorylated (active) β-catenin (right column). Shown are representative 40× images of the growth plate.