Antisense retinoic acid receptor γ-1 oligonucleotide enhances chondrogenesis of mouse limb mesenchymal cells in vitro

Abstract

AbstractRetinoic acid receptor (RAR) γ gene is expressed in the precartilaginous cells during chondrogenesis in mouse embryos, but the role of the gene products is still unclear. To examine the role during chondrogenesis, we isolated mesenchymal cells from the limb bud of mouse embryos and exposed them to antisense RAR γ-1 oligodeoxynucleotide in micromass culture. The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited RAR γ-1 protein expression and enhanced chondrogenesis in the exposed cells. These results suggest that the complex of RAR γ-1 protein and its ligand RA acts as a suppressor of the chondrogenesis in the limb development