CDRAP is expressed in adult articular cartilage, but its expression is not significantly regulated in osteoarthritic chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE: In this study we assessed the differential in vivo mRNA expression levels of CDRAP, a potential marker of cartilage degeneration. METHODS: Conventional and real time PCR in a large series of normal (n = 18) and late stage osteoarthritic (n = 24) cartilage specimens were performed. RESULTS: Conventional PCR analysis could demonstrate the presence of CDRAP mRNA in normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Real time quantitative PCR confirmed the presence of CDRAP mRNA expression in normal articular chondrocytes in vivo (and in vitro). No significant up-regulation of CDRAP was observed in osteoarthritic chondrocytes in vivo. CONCLUSION: The presented results confirm expression of CDRAP by normal and osteoarthritic articular chondrocytes, but indicate that increased expression levels by chondrocytes are not the cause of the increased levels of CDRAP in the synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis.