Regional assessment of articular cartilage gene expression and small proteoglycan metabolism in an animal model of osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT: Osteoarthritis (OA), the commonest form of arthritis and a major cause of morbidity, is characterized by progressive degeneration of the articular cartilage. Along with increased production and activation of degradative enzymes, altered synthesis of cartilage matrix molecules and growth factors by resident chondrocytes is believed to play a central role in this pathological process. We used an ovine meniscectomy model of OA to evaluate changes in chondrocyte expression of types I, II and III collagen; aggrecan; the small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) biglycan, decorin, lumican and fibromodulin; transforming growth factor-beta; and connective tissue growth factor. Changes were evaluated separately in the medial and lateral tibial plateaux, and were confirmed for selected molecules usin

SUBMITTER: Young AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1175037 | biostudies-literature | 2005

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature