[Frontiers in Bioscience 16, 2622-2641, June 1, 2011]
Applications of proteomics in cartilage biology and osteoarthritis research

Adam Williams1, Julia R. Smith2, David Allaway3, Pat Harris3, Susan Liddell4, Ali Mobasheri1

1Musculoskeletal Research Group, Division of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, College Road, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom, 2Bruker UK Limited, Coventry, CV4 9GH, United Kingdom, 3WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 4RT, United Kingdom, 4Proteomics Laboratory, School of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
2.1. Articular cartilage
2.2. Osteoarthritis (OA)
2.3. The role of chondrocytes and synoviocytes in the pathogenesis of OA
3. Proteomic approaches in cartilage biology and OA research
3.1. Proteomic studies of whole extracts of articular cartilage
3.2. Proteomic studies of cartilage and chondrocytes secretomes
3.3. Proteomic studies of chondrocytes - whole cell lysates
3.4. Proteomic studies of chondrocyte mitochondria
3.5. Proteomic studies of synovial fluid
3.6. Proteomic studies of synoviocyte lysates
3.7. Proteomic studies of synovial membrane
3.8. OA biomarkers in body fluids: proteomic studies of urinary and serum proteins
4. OA biomarkers: discovery, validation and commercialization
5. Areas for future research
5.1. Glycomics
5.2. Plasma membrane proteomics
5.3. The chondrocyte channelome
6. Concluding Remarks
7. Acknowledgements
8. References

1. ABSTRACT

In osteoarthritis (OA) the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) macromolecules is disrupted by catabolic changes that lead to the production of a range of inflammatory mediators and the loss and fragmentation of proteoglycans, fibrillar and non-fibrillar collagens.  These events result in the degradation and release of ECM fragments, which are potential biomarkers that can be detected in synovial fluid, blood and urine.  Proteomics is increasingly applied in cartilage research and has the potential to advance our understanding of the biology of this tissue.  It can also provide mechanistic insight into disease pathogenesis and progression and facilitate biomarker discovery.  Here we review the area of cartilage and chondrocyte proteomics and published studies relevant to arthritis and OA biomarkers, highlighting areas of current and future research and development. Markers of tissue turnover in joints have the capacity to reflect disease-relevant biological activity potentially enabling a more rational approach to healthcare management. Therefore proteomic studies of cartilage, chondrocytes and their subcellular fractions and other joint cells and tissues may be particularly relevant in diagnostic orthopedics and therapeutic research.