CTRP1

Also known as C1QTNF1 which LSJL does upregulate.

A novel adipokine C1q/TNF-related protein 1 (CTRP1) regulates chondrocyte proliferation and maturation through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

"CTRP1, a paralog of adiponectin, is a member of the C1q and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein (CTRP) superfamily. It is expressed at high levels in adipose tissue and has recently emerged as a novel adipokine.  CTRP1 [has a role] in chondrocyte proliferation and maturation [in] a mouse chondrocytic cell line, N1511. The CTRP1 protein was strongly expressed and predominantly distributed in the reserve and proliferative chondrocytes in the fetal growth plate and its mRNA decreased during the maturation of N1511 chondrocytes. Recombinant CTRP1 promoted proliferation of immature proliferating N1511 chondrocytes in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it inhibited maturation of maturing N1511 chondrocytes. The stimulatory effect of CTRP1 on chondrocyte proliferation was associated with activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. The inhibitory effect of CTRP1 on chondrocyte maturation is associated with suppression of the ERK1/2 pathway."

So CTRP1 could play a role in the LSJL height increasing effect.

"CTRP1 [is] expressed in vascular wall tissues and [inhibits] collagen-induced platelet aggregation by blocking the binding of von Willebrand factor to collagen"

"Staining [for CTRP1] was observed in articular chondrocytes but was restricted to the superficial and middle zone"

"increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in [immature chondrocyte] cells stimulated with 10 μg/ml of CTRP1 after 15 min, with the increase peaking after 30 min of stimulation and decreasing after 1 h"

"CTRP1 had no effect on the activities of JNK1/2, p38 MAPK, and Akt, and none of their phosphorylated forms was detected"

"Inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway by pretreatment with U0126 led to a block of CTRP1-stimulated proliferation of immature proliferative chondrocytes"

"[Due to CTRP1] the expression levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 gradually decreased within 5 min, and this inhibitory effect lasted for at least 1 h in maturing chondrocytes"

"The expression of mRNA for Col2al and aggrecan in the U0126-treated[the ERK 1/2 inhibitor] [in addition to CTRP1] maturing N1511 chondrocytes was reduced to 52% and 43%"

"When immature proliferating N1511 chondrocytes were induced to mature by BMP-2 and insulin treatment, there was a significant decrease in levels of CTRP1 mRNA."

"CTRP3 [has a stimulatory effect] on the proliferation of immature proliferating chondrocytes in N1511 cell cultures"<-CTRP3 is upregulated over 6 fold in LSJL as C1qtnf3.

"Unlike the immature proliferating chondrocytes, the maturing chondrocytes have a high basal level of activated ERK1/2, and the high basal phosphorylation of ERK1/2 is suppressed following CTRP1 treatment."<-So ERK1/2-p is biphasic on growth.

"During chondrocyte maturation, high levels of Col2a1 and aggrecan mRNA require persistently high basal activation of the ERK1/2 pathway"

"transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation in undifferentiated ATDC5 chondrocytes but decreased phosphorylated ERK1/2 in differentiated ATDC5 cells."