Ciliary IFT88 protects coordinated adolescent growth plate ossification from disruptive physiological mechanical forces

Compared with our understanding of endochondral ossification, much less is known about the coordinated arrest of growth defined by the narrowing and fusion of the cartilaginous growth plate. Throughout the musculoskeletal system, appropriate cell and tissue responses to mechanical force delineate morphogenesis and ensure lifelong health. It remains unclear how mechanical cues are integrated into many biological programs, including those coordinating the ossification of the adolescent growth plate at the cessation of growth. Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles tuning a range of cell activities, including signaling cascades activated or modulated by extracellular biophysical cues. Cilia have been proposed to directly facilitate cell mechanotransduction. To explore the influence of primary cilia in the mouse adolescent limb, we conditionally targeted the ciliary gene Intraflagellar transport protein 88 (Ift88fl/fl) in the juvenile and adolescent skeleton using a cartilage-specific, inducible Cre (AggrecanCreERT2 Ift88fl/fl). Deletion of IFT88 in cartilage, which reduced ciliation in the growth plate, disrupted chondrocyte differentiation, cartilage resorption, and mineralization. These effects were largely restricted to peripheral tibial regions beneath the load-bearing compartments of the knee. These regions were typified by an enlarged population of hypertrophic chondrocytes. Although normal patterns of hedgehog signaling were maintained, targeting IFT88 inhibited hypertrophic chondrocyte VEGF expression and downstream vascular recruitment, osteoclastic activity, and the replacement of cartilage with bone. In control mice, increases to physiological loading also impair ossification in the peripheral growth plate, mimicking the effects of IFT88 deletion. Limb immobilization inhibited changes to VEGF expression and epiphyseal morphology in Ift88cKO mice, indicating the effects of depletion of IFT88 in the adolescent growth plate are mechano-dependent. We propose that during this pivotal phase in adolescent skeletal maturation, ciliary IFT88 protects uniform, coordinated ossification of the growth plate from an otherwise disruptive heterogeneity of physiological mechanical forces

Buying Veg Private Labels. Antecedents and Mediators

The current work focuses on consumer buying behavior concerning veg food branded with the private label. Studies on the factors driving consumers in buying veg private labels are uncommon and empirical studies on the topic are lacking. Specifically, we propose a model aimed at exploring the attitude-intention-behaviour path when veg private labels (VPL) are concerned and when a double kind of behavior is considered: behavioral loyalty (BLVPL) and willingness to pay (WTP). The study was performed via a survey accomplished administering a structured questionnaire to a sample of consumers via social networks and then applying structural equation modeling (SEM) to the dataset. Findings confirm the investigated path in developing a positive willingness to pay (WTP) and buying behavior (BLVPL) regarding VPL, through the mediating role of attitude towards vegan food consumption (ATTV) and intention to buy the vegan private label (INTB-VPL), activated by an ethical motive: planet concern. Theoretical and managerial implications are derived