Age-related changes in the expression of cadherin-11, the mesenchyme specific calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule

• Published in: Calcified tissue international Vol. 62; no. 6; pp. 532 - 537
• Main Authors: Goomer, R S, Maris, T, Amiel, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Age Factors; Animals; Base Sequence; Bone Marrow Cells - metabolism; Cadherins - genetics; Calcium; Cell Adhesion Molecules - genetics; Cells, Cultured; DNA, Complementary; Gene Expression; Humans; Mesoderm - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Osteoblasts - metabolism; Rabbits; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Stromal Cells - metabolism
• ISSN: 0171-967X; 1432-0827
• DOI: 10.1007/s002239900474

Cadherin-11 is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule that is expressed in cells of the mesenchymal lineage during embryonic development. In this study we show, for the first time, that cadherin-11 gene is expressed in the bone marrow and bone cells obtained from rabbits of various age groups. Furthermore, a quantitative measurement of gene expression revealed that cadherin-11 was expressed in young rabbits (6 week-old: open epiphysis) at a level of 6.7 x 10(5) +/- 0.7 x 10(5) molecules; in mature rabbits (8-10 month-old: closed epiphysis) at 11 x 10(5) +/- 0.9 x 10(5) molecules; and in aged rabbits (4-5 year-old) at a level of 1.2 x 10(5) +/- 0.2 x 10(5) molecules/microg total RNA. The relative level of cadherin-11 gene expression in mature rabbit marrow was found to be approximately 50% greater than in young rabbits. However, aged animals showed a reduction in cadherin-11 specific gene expression of greater than 900% as compared with mature animals. Age-related changes in bone remodeling/turnover lead to reduced bone density and high fracture risk, and since cadherins play a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis, this marked decrease may represent an index of the aging process in bone.