The activity of 2,5-oligoadenylate synthetase, an interferon-induced enzyme, is coupled to the differentiation state of mouse condylar cartilage

Abstract. The enzyme 2,5-oligoadenylate synthetase (2–5A synthetase) is associated with the interferon system, with special reference to the differentiation process of various cell types. The present study investigated whether 2-5A synthetase is also involved in the differentiation of neocartilage in perinatal mice. The cartilage of the mandibular condyle, a secondary type of cartilage, develops relatively late in prenatal life; and consequently it was possible to obtain a relatively embryonic cartilage at a developmental stage that could be manipulated enzymaticlly, in order to separate and thereby obtain its undifferentiated, proliferative portion along with its more mature fraction. Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies against type I and type II collagen and cartilage-specific proteolgycans could have determined the differentiation status of various portions of the developing condyle. However, the above methodology lacks the necessary precision and accuracy to indicate subtle changes in cellular differentiation. It became evident that the activity of 2-5A synthetase was indeed different in cellular compartments that were at different stages of differentiation. In the neonatal condyle the highest level of activity was encountered in proliferating and as yet undifferentiated prechondrocytes, whereas fully differentiated chondrocytes showed a marked decrease in the activity of this enzyme.