ABSTRACT I CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL NUCLEAR VARIANT OF BMP2Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) is a signaling protein that was first detected by its ability to induce cartilage and bone formation. It has since been implicated in broad variety of developmental, patterning, and disease processes. To date, Bmp2 has only been known to function as an extracellular signaling molecule. However, we have obtained clear evidence for a nuclear form of Bmp2. This nuclear variant, nBmp2, contains a bipartite NLS that overlaps the site of proteolytic cleavage. The NLS remains intact and functional when translation of Bmp2 initiates from a downstream alternative start codon. The resulting protein lacks the signal peptide and is therefore translated in the cytoplasm rather than the endoplasmic reticulum, thus avoiding proteolytic processing and secretion. Instead, the uncleaved protein containing the intact NLS is translocated to the nucleus. Preliminary functional analyses in zebrafish indicate that nBmp2 is critical for proper heart development. To determine if this function is conserved in mammals, we have also generated mice harboring a null allele for nBmp2. ABSTRACT II COORDINATE REGULATION OF COL11A2 AND COL27A1 BY THE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR LC-MAF During skeletal development, long bones of the body develop from a cartilage template that is progressively replaced by bone. This process of endochondral ossification requires precisely coordinated expression of extracellular matrix proteins such as the cartilage-specific collagens. In this study, enhancer/reporter assays demonstrated that the transcription factor Lc-Maf inhibits the transcriptional activity of a cartilage-specific Col11a2 enhancer element while a cartilage-specific COL27A1 enhancer element was strongly activated by Lc-Maf. Site-directed mutagenesis identified the binding region within the COL27A1 enhancer, and it was found to be unlike any known consensus Maf family binding site. The in vivo significance of these results was examined using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in mouse limbs undergoing endochondral ossification. Taken together, these results suggest that Lc-Maf participates in the developmental transition from proliferating to hypertrophic chondrocytes during endochondral ossification by coordinately downregulating Col11a2 and upregulating Col27a1 collagen gene expression.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医科学) / 甲第24843号 / 医科博第151号 / 新制||医科||10(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医科学専攻 / (主査)教授 齋藤, 潤, 教授 遊佐, 宏介, 教授 松田, 秀一 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

A osteoaderina (OSAD) tem sido identificada nos tecidos mineralizados, porém, seu papel na mineralização óssea não está claro. Foi feita uma comparação do momento em que a OSAD aparece na ossificação intramembranosa e endocondral, em relação aos estágios iniciais de mineralização. O osso parietal de fetos de ratos Wistar com 17, 18 e 21 dias e o côndilo mandibular de ratos com 30 dias foram removidos. A expressão de OSAD foi analisada por imunocitoquímica e Western blotting. Nos dois tipos de ossificação, a imunomarcação foi detectada nos osteoblastos; porém, na matriz extracelular a OSAD apareceu somente na fase fibrilar de mineralização, mantendo-se constante posteriormente. A análise por Western blotting revelou que os fetos com 17 dias continham pouco menos OSAD que os de 18 dias, enquanto a imunorreatividade diminuía nos fetos com 21 dias. Os resultados sugerem que a OSAD tem um papel na mineralização da matriz, atuando, provavelmente como organizadora de seu arcabouço ou retendo o mineral, além de exercer atividades de adesão entre os componentes da matriz. / Osteoadherin (OSAD) had been identified in mineralized tissues, but its specific role in mineralization remains unclear. The present study compared the appearance of OSAD at early stages of mineralization during both intramembranous and endochondral ossification. Parietal bone of 17, 18 and 21 days-old fetus and mandibular condyle of 30 days-old Wistar rats were removed. The expression of OSAD was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. In both types of ossification the labeling was uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts but it only appeared in the mineralizing matrix when the fibrilar stage was taking place, remaining as a component of the mineralized bone matrix. Western blots revealed that 17-days-old embryos contained slightly less OSAD than 18- days-old fetus, while immunoreactivity was weak in 21 days-old fetus. The results suggest that OSAD plays a role in collagen fibril mineralization maybe by organizing the matrix assembly or by retaining the mineral into the matrix, besides exerting binding activities among its components.

La dysplasie géléophysique (DG) est une maladie rare qui appartient à la famille des dysplasies acroméliques. Cette pathologie est caractérisée par un retard statural, une brachydactylie, une raideur articulaire, une dysmorphie faciale, une peau épaisse, une atteinte bronchopulmonaire et une surcharge valvulaire cardiaque conduisant le plus souvent à une mort précoce dans les premières années de la vie. Deux modes de transmissions ont été identifiés. Le premier autosomique récessif est dû à des mutations dans le gène ADAMTSL2. Le second, autosomique dominant est dû à un hot-spot de mutations dans les exons 41 et 42 qui codent pour le domaine Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) β-binding protein-like domain 5 (TB5) du gène FBN1. FBN1 et ADAMTSL2 codent pour des protéines sécrétées de la matrice extracellulaire (MEC). FBN1 code pour la fibrilline-1, une composante des microfibrilles qui jouent un rôle dans la biodisponibilité du TGFβ. La protéine ADAMTSL2 fait partie de la famille des ADAMTS mais n’a pas d’activité enzymatique dû à l’absence de domaine catalytique. Sa fonction est encore inconnue. Cependant des partenaires d’ADAMTSL2 ont été identifiés par notre équipe : latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1) et FBN1 qui sont directement impliqués dans le stockage de TGFβ. Récemment une autre protéine, FBN2, a aussi été découverte comme partenaire d’ADAMTSL2 (Hubmacher D et. al.). L’objectif de ma thèse était de comprendre le mécanisme physiopathologique de la DG, grâce à l’analyse de modèles murins. Un premier modèle murin pour la forme récessive de la DG appelé CreCMV; Adamtsl2f/f (ou KO) a été généré. L’analyse phénotypique de ces souris a montré un retard statural, des os longs courts, des extrémités courtes. Dans les plaques de croissance des os longs des souris mutantes, nous avons observé une désorganisation des colonnes chondrocytaires associée à une diminution de l’expression du collagène de type 10, marqueur de la différentiation des chondrocytes. L’analyse de la matrice extracellulaire des plaques de croissance a révélé une désorganisation structurale importante. Une diminution de la fibrilline-1 et de LTBP-1 a été observée ainsi qu’une augmentation de l’activation de la voie de signalisation TGFβ au niveau de la plaque de croissance des souris mutantes. Nous avons observé une désorganisation du réseau microfibrillaire sur des cultures de chondrocytes de souris mutantes. Ces résultats nous ont permis de suggérer que la protéine ADAMTSL2 est impliquée dans la structure du réseau microfibrillaire, lieu de stockage du TGFβ et de démontrer un rôle majeur d’ADAMTSL2 dans la régulation de la chondrogenèse. Afin d’étudier la forme dominante de la DG, le modèle FBN1TB5+/- a été généré. Il est issu d’un système knock-in avec une mutation dans l’exon 42 du gène fbn1 qui correspond au domaine TB5 de la fibrilline-1. Nos résultats ont montré une réduction de la taille des souris hétérozygotes et homozygotes en comparaison aux souris sauvages au stade P1 et P30. Au stade P1, nous avons observé des chondrocytes plus larges et une dérégulation des marqueurs de la chondrogenèse au niveau de la plaque de croissance des fémurs des souris hétérozygotes, ainsi que chez les souris homozygotes. De plus, nous avons observé une très forte mortalité des souris homozygotes vers l’âge de 2 ou 3 mois. Nous en avons conclu que des mutations domaine TB5 de la fibrilline étaient liées à un retard statural et donc que FBN1 avait un rôle majeur dans la chondrogenèse. / Geleophysic dysplasia (GD) is a rare disease, which belong to acromelic group. This pathology is characterized by short stature, brachydactyly, joint stiffness, thick skin, facial dimorphism, broncho-pulmonary insufficiency and cardiac disease which lead to an early death in the first years of life. Two mode of inheritance have been identified. The first one, autosomal recessive, is due to mutations in ADAMTSL2 gene. The second, autosomal dominant, is due to hot-spot mutations in exon 41-42 of FBN1 gene, which encode the Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) β-binding protein-like domain 5 (TB5) of the protein. FBN1 and ADAMTSL2 encode secreted proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM). FBN1 encodes fibrilline-1, component of microfibrillar network, playing a role in the bioavailability of TGF- β. ADAMTSL2 protein belongs to ADAMTS family, but does not have enzymatic activity due to lack of catalytic domain. Its function remains unknown. However, ADAMTSL2 partners have been identified by our team: latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 1 (LTBP1) and FBN1, which are directly implied in storage of TGF-β. Recently, another protein, FBN2, have been identified as an ADAMTSL2 partner (Hubmacher D et. al.). The aim of my study was to understand the physiopathological mechanism of Geleophysic dysplasia by analysing murine models. A first murine model for the GD recessive form, CreCMV; Adamtsl2f/f (KO), have been generated. Phenotypic analysis of these mice showed short stature and shorter long bones and extremities. In long bone growth plate of mutant mice, we observed disorganization of chondrocyte columns, associated with decrease of collagen 10 expression, marker of chondrocyte differentiation. Analysis of ECM in growth plate revealed strong structural disorganization. Decrease of FBN1 and LTBP1 and were observed with an overactivation of TGF-β pathway in growth plate of mutant mice. We observed disorganization of microfibrillar network in chondrocyte cultures of mutant mice. These results suggest that ADAMTSL2 protein is implied in structure of microfibrillar network, where is stored TGF-β, and demonstrate major role of ADAMTSL2 in chondrogenesis. In order to study dominant form of GD, mouse model FBN1TB5+/-, have been generated. The mice were obtained by knock-in system, with mutation in exon 42 of FBN1 gene. Our results showed short stature of heterozygous (HT) and homozygous (Ho) mice compared to wild)type mice, at stage P1 and P30. At stage P1, we observed larger chondrocytes and deregulation of chondrogenesis markers in growth plate of HT and Ho mice. Furthermore, we observed high mortality of Ho mice at 2-3 months. We concluded that mutations in TB5 domain of FBN1 were linked to short stature and thus FBN1 have major role in chondrogenesis.

The growth plate resting zone consists of hyaline-like chondrocytes disbursed in a proteoglycan rich extracellular matrix. These cells give rise to the columns of the growth zone, consisting of progressively hypertrophic cells. Proliferation of resting zone chondrocytes induced by systemic and local stimuli is the driving force of longitudinal growth of long bones. Therefore, homeostasis of this cell population has great importance. Although the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of these cells has been well studied, little is known about the regulation of their apoptosis. We have previously shown that chelerythrine and tamoxifen induce apoptosis in resting zone chondrocytes in a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway. In this study we explored two physiological apoptogens: inorganic phosphate (Pi) and 17β-estradiol (E₂). We found NO production is necessary in Pi-induced apoptosis. We also found that NO donors induced chondrocyte apoptosis by up-regulating p53 expression, Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratio and cytochrome C release from mitochondria, as well as caspase-3 activity, indicating that NO induces chondrocyte apoptosis in a mitochondrial pathway. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity was involved. A c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, but not inhibitors of p38 or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), was able to block NO-induced apoptosis, indicating that JNK is necessary in this pathway. Taken together, Pi elevates NO production, which leads to a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway dependent on JNK. On the other hand, although E₂caused apoptosis in resting zone chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner, up-regulated p53 and Bax, and induced release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria, which indicated a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, the apoptosis did not involve elevated nitric oxide production or MAPK as was found in Pi-induced apoptosis. This study elucidates the signaling pathway underlying Pi and E₂-induced chondrocyte apoptosis. It has important implications on understanding the development of mammalian growth plate. It also provides further information about the physiological functions of estrogen on longitudinal bone growth.

Cysteine rich with EGF-like domains 2 (Creld2) is a novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident molecular chaperone that has been recently implicated in the ER stress signalling response (ERSS) and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Global transcriptomic data derived from in vivo mouse models of rare chondrodysplasias; Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia (MED Matn3 p.V194D) and Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia type Schmid (MCDS Col10a1 p.N617K), identified a significant upregulation in Creld2 expression in mutant chondrocytes. These chondrodysplasias share a common disease signature consisting of aberrant folding of a matrix component often as a result of inappropriate alignment of intramolecular disulphide bonds. This in turn culminates in toxic protein aggregation, intracellular retention mutant polypeptides and a classical ER stress response. The aim of this study was to further analyse the function of Creld2 in cartilage development and chondrodysplasias in which endochondral bone growth is perturbed. Protein disulphide isomerases (PDIAs) were amongst the most up-regulated genes in the MED and MCDS mouse models, consistent with the prolonged exposure of normally 'buried' cysteine residues. This led to the hypothesis that Creld2 was functioning as a novel PDI-like oxidoreductase to assist in the correct folding and maturation of aggregated misfolded polypeptide chains through REDOX regulated thiol disulphide exchange. A series of Creld2-CXXA substrate trapping mutants were generated in order to determine whether Creld2 possessed inherent isomerase activity. Here potential substrates interacting with Creld2 were 'trapped' as mixed disulphide intermediates, then isolated by immunoprecipitation and identified by mass spectrometry analysis. It was demonstrated that Creld2 possessed a catalytic active CXXC motif in its N-terminus that enabled the molecular chaperone to participate in REDOX regulated thiol disulphide exchange with at least 20 potential substrates including; laminin (alpha3,β3,γ2), thrombospondin 1, integrin alpha3 and type VI collagen. There was also numerous co-chaperones and foldases thought to be part of a specialised protein-protein interactome (PPI) for folding nascent polypeptides translocating the ER lumen. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation experiments supported a protein-protein interaction between Creld2 and mutant matrilin-3, thereby inferring a potential chondro-protective role in resolving non-native disulphide bonded aggregates in MED. An established biochemical approach was employed to test the hypothesis that all MATN3-MED disease causing mutations have a generic cellular response to the β-sheet V194D mutation, consisting of intracellular retention, protein aggregation and ER stress induction. Several missense mutations were selected for analyses which encompassed a spectrum of disease severity and included examples of both β-sheet and alpha helical mutations. It was possible to define a reliable and reproducible assay for categorising MATN3 missense mutations into pathological or benign based on these basic parameters. This study was extended further to determine whether there were common pathological mechanisms behind MED and Bethlem myopathy (BM) caused by missense mutations in von Willebrand Factor A domain (vWF-A) containing proteins (matrilin-3 and type VI collagen respectively). We chose to compare and contrast the effects of an archetypal MATN3-MED causing mutation (R121W) with the equivalent COL6A2-BM causing mutation (R876H). These mutations compromised protein folding and maturation, resulting in the familiar disease profile of intracellular retention, protein aggregation and an ER stress response in an artificial overexpression system. However, the mutant C2 domain was efficiently targeted for degradation whilst mutant matrilin-3 vWF-A domain appeared to be resistant to these molecular processes.Molecular genetics was employed to study the role of Creld2 in vivo. Creld2-/- null mice (both global and conditional) were generated to directly examine the role of Creld2 in endochondral bone growth. Global knock-out mice were viable with no overt phenotype at birth. However, female Creld2-/- null mice showed a significant reduction in body weight and tibia bone length at 3 weeks of age. A cartilage specific knock-out was generated to determine whether these skeletal abnormalities were attributed to a systemic or a direct effect on cartilage development. [Creld2Flox/Flox Col2Cre (+)] demonstrated a severe chondrodysplasia with significantly reduced body weight and long bone growth compared to control littermates. Morphological and histochemical analysis of mutant growth plates revealed gross disorganisation of the chondrocyte columns with extensive regions of hypocellularity. These pathological features were confirmed to be the result of reduced chondrocyte proliferation and increased/spatially dysregulated apoptosis throughout all zones of differentiation. Taken together, these data provide evidence that Creld2 possesses isomerase activity and exhibits distinct substrate specificity. Furthermore, Creld2 has a fundamental role in post-natal cartilage development and chondrocyte differentiation in the growth plate.

A osteoaderina (OSAD) tem sido identificada nos tecidos mineralizados, porém, seu papel na mineralização óssea não está claro. Foi feita uma comparação do momento em que a OSAD aparece na ossificação intramembranosa e endocondral, em relação aos estágios iniciais de mineralização. O osso parietal de fetos de ratos Wistar com 17, 18 e 21 dias e o côndilo mandibular de ratos com 30 dias foram removidos. A expressão de OSAD foi analisada por imunocitoquímica e Western blotting. Nos dois tipos de ossificação, a imunomarcação foi detectada nos osteoblastos; porém, na matriz extracelular a OSAD apareceu somente na fase fibrilar de mineralização, mantendo-se constante posteriormente. A análise por Western blotting revelou que os fetos com 17 dias continham pouco menos OSAD que os de 18 dias, enquanto a imunorreatividade diminuía nos fetos com 21 dias. Os resultados sugerem que a OSAD tem um papel na mineralização da matriz, atuando, provavelmente como organizadora de seu arcabouço ou retendo o mineral, além de exercer atividades de adesão entre os componentes da matriz. / Osteoadherin (OSAD) had been identified in mineralized tissues, but its specific role in mineralization remains unclear. The present study compared the appearance of OSAD at early stages of mineralization during both intramembranous and endochondral ossification. Parietal bone of 17, 18 and 21 days-old fetus and mandibular condyle of 30 days-old Wistar rats were removed. The expression of OSAD was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. In both types of ossification the labeling was uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts but it only appeared in the mineralizing matrix when the fibrilar stage was taking place, remaining as a component of the mineralized bone matrix. Western blots revealed that 17-days-old embryos contained slightly less OSAD than 18- days-old fetus, while immunoreactivity was weak in 21 days-old fetus. The results suggest that OSAD plays a role in collagen fibril mineralization maybe by organizing the matrix assembly or by retaining the mineral into the matrix, besides exerting binding activities among its components.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

As MMPs são endopeptidases zinco dependentes que, em conjunto, podem degradar todos os componentes da MEC e gerar moléculas bioativas. São as principais responsáveis pelo remodelamento tecidual durante eventos fisiológicos normais como a embriogênese e organogênese e também em eventos patológicos como a invasão tumoral nos tecidos. As pesquisas na área de mineralização biológica têm buscado identificar os genes envolvidos nos mecanismos moleculares que regula o processo de ossificação endocondral. As MMPs e seus inibidores são responsáveis pelo controle da degradação desta matriz, como os inibidores teciduais das MMPs (TIMPs) e a proteína RECK, que, muito provavelmente, determinam o grau de remodelação da matriz extracelular. Desta forma, nosso objetivo foi delinear o perfil temporal e espacial da expressão das MMP-15/MT2-MMP, MMP-16/MT3- MMP, MMP-17/MT4-MMP, MMP-24/MT5-MMP e MMP-25/MT6-MMP durante a ossificação endocondral em embriões de camundongos e em animais recémnascidos através das técnicas de PCR em tempo real e imunohistoquímica. Por imunohistoquímica, nós não encontramos imunomarcação para a MMP-15/MT2- MMP em nenhum dos períodos analisados, apesar da padronização do anticorpo primário. Tanto a MMP-16/MT3-MMP quanto a MMP-24/MT5-MMP foram imunolocalizadas, principalmente, nos osteoblastos do fronte de ossificação da placa de crescimento. Para a MMP-17/MT4-MMP, durante a diferenciação condrocítica (E13) os condrócitos proliferativos foram imunocorados, bem como os condrócitos hipertróficos no centro da cartilagem do molde cartilaginoso (E14). Durante a invasão celular e vascular (E15), as células mesenquimais oriundas do colar ósseo, provavelmente pré-osteoblastos, foram imunocorados na cavidade medular primitiva e osteoblastos fronte de ossificação foram imunocorados, de E16 a PN1. Observamos para a MMP-25/MT6-MMP o mesmo padrão de imunomarcação das demais MT-MMPs, exceto no molde cartilaginoso, onde apenas as células do periósteo e pericôndrio foram imunocoradas, diferentemente da demais que foram localizadas apenas no centro do molde cartilaginoso. A análise da expressão dos transcritos para todas as MT-MMPs revelou o mesmo perfil de expressão, sendo alta durante a fase de diferenciação condrocítica (E13), tendo queda de expressão de E14 a E16. Em E16 há um aumento de expressão até E18 e, novamente, queda até E20 e pouca ou nenhuma expressão em PN7. Apesar deste perfil semelhante, houve uma expressão diferencial entre elas, sendo a MMP-15/MT2-MMP > MMP- 17/MT4-MMP > MMP-16/MT3-MMP > MMP-24/MT5-MMP > MMP-25/MT6/MMP. Os resultados obtidos mostram, pela primeira vez, que as MT-MMPs estão diferencialmente expressas durante a ossificação endocondral normal em camundongos, sugerindo que a atividade biológica destas enzimas esteja atuando na degradação da matriz extracelular pericelular tanto durante a fase de desenvolvimento quanto de formação óssea. / MMPs are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that, collectivelly, degrade all components of the ECM and generate bioactive molecules. They are able to remodelate the ECM during normal developmental processes such as embryogenesis and organogenesis, as well as in pathological processes such as tumoral invasion. The biological mineralization research looking for discovering the genes involved in the molecular mechanisms that control the endochondral ossification process. MMPs and their inhibitors (TIMPs and RECK) are responsable for bone matrix remodeling and, probably, determinate the level of its turnover. Thus, our goal was to evaluate the temporal-spatial expression of MMP-15/MT2-MMP, MMP-16/MT3-MMP, MMP-17/MT4-MMP, MMP-24/MT5-MMP, and MMP-25/MT6- MMP in mice embryos and newborns during endochondral ossification by Real Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. By immunohistochemistry, MMP-15/MT2-MMP signal was not detected. Both MMP-16/MT3-MMP and MMP-24/MT5-MMP were immunostained, mainly in osteoblasts at ossification front of growth plate. For MMP- 17/MT4-MMP, proliferative chondrocytes were immunopositive during chondrocyte differentiation (E13) as well as in hipertrophyc chondrocytes at the middle of cartilaginous template (E14). During cellular e vascular invasion (E15), mesenchymal cells from bone collar, probable pre-osteoblasts, were immunostained at primary bone marrow and osteoblasts at ossification front from E16 e PN1. For MMP- 25/MT6-MMP, perichondrial and periostal cellls were immunostained at cartilaginous template. All MT-MMPs evaluated showed the same transcript levels profile, being high in chondrocyte differentiation (E13), decreasing from E14 to E16. mRNA levels increased from E16 to E18 and, once more, decreasing from E18 to E20. Despite this profile, we observed difference levels: MMP-15/MT2-MMP > MMP-17/MT4-MMP > MMP-16/MT3-MMP > MMP-24/MT5-MMP > MMP-25/MT6/MMP. Our findings show, for the first time, that MT-MMPs are differentially expressed during normal endochondral ossification in mice, suggesting their biological activity act in pericellular extracellular matrix degradation in both development and bone formation.

As MMPs são endopeptidases zinco dependentes que, em conjunto, podem degradar todos os componentes da MEC e gerar moléculas bioativas. São as principais responsáveis pelo remodelamento tecidual durante eventos fisiológicos normais como a embriogênese e organogênese e também em eventos patológicos como a invasão tumoral nos tecidos. As pesquisas na área de mineralização biológica têm buscado identificar os genes envolvidos nos mecanismos moleculares que regula o processo de ossificação endocondral. As MMPs e seus inibidores são responsáveis pelo controle da degradação desta matriz, como os inibidores teciduais das MMPs (TIMPs) e a proteína RECK, que, muito provavelmente, determinam o grau de remodelação da matriz extracelular. Desta forma, nosso objetivo foi delinear o perfil temporal e espacial da expressão das MMP-15/MT2-MMP, MMP-16/MT3- MMP, MMP-17/MT4-MMP, MMP-24/MT5-MMP e MMP-25/MT6-MMP durante a ossificação endocondral em embriões de camundongos e em animais recémnascidos através das técnicas de PCR em tempo real e imunohistoquímica. Por imunohistoquímica, nós não encontramos imunomarcação para a MMP-15/MT2- MMP em nenhum dos períodos analisados, apesar da padronização do anticorpo primário. Tanto a MMP-16/MT3-MMP quanto a MMP-24/MT5-MMP foram imunolocalizadas, principalmente, nos osteoblastos do fronte de ossificação da placa de crescimento. Para a MMP-17/MT4-MMP, durante a diferenciação condrocítica (E13) os condrócitos proliferativos foram imunocorados, bem como os condrócitos hipertróficos no centro da cartilagem do molde cartilaginoso (E14). Durante a invasão celular e vascular (E15), as células mesenquimais oriundas do colar ósseo, provavelmente pré-osteoblastos, foram imunocorados na cavidade medular primitiva e osteoblastos fronte de ossificação foram imunocorados, de E16 a PN1. Observamos para a MMP-25/MT6-MMP o mesmo padrão de imunomarcação das demais MT-MMPs, exceto no molde cartilaginoso, onde apenas as células do periósteo e pericôndrio foram imunocoradas, diferentemente da demais que foram localizadas apenas no centro do molde cartilaginoso. A análise da expressão dos transcritos para todas as MT-MMPs revelou o mesmo perfil de expressão, sendo alta durante a fase de diferenciação condrocítica (E13), tendo queda de expressão de E14 a E16. Em E16 há um aumento de expressão até E18 e, novamente, queda até E20 e pouca ou nenhuma expressão em PN7. Apesar deste perfil semelhante, houve uma expressão diferencial entre elas, sendo a MMP-15/MT2-MMP > MMP- 17/MT4-MMP > MMP-16/MT3-MMP > MMP-24/MT5-MMP > MMP-25/MT6/MMP. Os resultados obtidos mostram, pela primeira vez, que as MT-MMPs estão diferencialmente expressas durante a ossificação endocondral normal em camundongos, sugerindo que a atividade biológica destas enzimas esteja atuando na degradação da matriz extracelular pericelular tanto durante a fase de desenvolvimento quanto de formação óssea. / MMPs are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that, collectivelly, degrade all components of the ECM and generate bioactive molecules. They are able to remodelate the ECM during normal developmental processes such as embryogenesis and organogenesis, as well as in pathological processes such as tumoral invasion. The biological mineralization research looking for discovering the genes involved in the molecular mechanisms that control the endochondral ossification process. MMPs and their inhibitors (TIMPs and RECK) are responsable for bone matrix remodeling and, probably, determinate the level of its turnover. Thus, our goal was to evaluate the temporal-spatial expression of MMP-15/MT2-MMP, MMP-16/MT3-MMP, MMP-17/MT4-MMP, MMP-24/MT5-MMP, and MMP-25/MT6- MMP in mice embryos and newborns during endochondral ossification by Real Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. By immunohistochemistry, MMP-15/MT2-MMP signal was not detected. Both MMP-16/MT3-MMP and MMP-24/MT5-MMP were immunostained, mainly in osteoblasts at ossification front of growth plate. For MMP- 17/MT4-MMP, proliferative chondrocytes were immunopositive during chondrocyte differentiation (E13) as well as in hipertrophyc chondrocytes at the middle of cartilaginous template (E14). During cellular e vascular invasion (E15), mesenchymal cells from bone collar, probable pre-osteoblasts, were immunostained at primary bone marrow and osteoblasts at ossification front from E16 e PN1. For MMP- 25/MT6-MMP, perichondrial and periostal cellls were immunostained at cartilaginous template. All MT-MMPs evaluated showed the same transcript levels profile, being high in chondrocyte differentiation (E13), decreasing from E14 to E16. mRNA levels increased from E16 to E18 and, once more, decreasing from E18 to E20. Despite this profile, we observed difference levels: MMP-15/MT2-MMP > MMP-17/MT4-MMP > MMP-16/MT3-MMP > MMP-24/MT5-MMP > MMP-25/MT6/MMP. Our findings show, for the first time, that MT-MMPs are differentially expressed during normal endochondral ossification in mice, suggesting their biological activity act in pericellular extracellular matrix degradation in both development and bone formation.