Superoxide dismutase downregulation in osteoarthritis progression and end-stage disease.

Background: Oxidative stress is proposed as an important factor in osteoarthritis (OA).

Objective: To investigate the expression of the three superoxide dismutase (SOD) antioxidant enzymes in OA.

Methods: SOD expression was determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry using human femoral head cartilage.

Jouberin localizes to collecting ducts and interacts with nephrocystin-1.

Joubert syndrome and related disorders are autosomal recessive multisystem diseases characterized by cerebellar vermis aplasia/hypoplasia, retinal degeneration and cystic kidney disease. There are five known genes; mutations of which give rise to a spectrum of renal cystic diseases the most common of which is nephronophthisis, a disorder characterized by early loss of urinary concentrating ability, renal fibrosis, corticomedullary cyst formation and renal failure. Many of the proteins encoded by these genes interact with one another and are located at adherens junctions or the primary cilia and or basal bodies.