Kazald1 attenuates chondrocyte fibrosis to potentiate hyaline cartilage regeneration by interfering with the pro-fibrotic TGF-β signaling.

ABSTRACT: Background: Cartilage regeneration remained a significant challenge, often leading to the formation of mechanically inferior fibrocartilage instead of physiological hyaline cartilage. Currently, there were no effective treatments for cartilage fibrosis, necessitating the exploration of potential molecular targets. Methods: We perform single-cell sequencing of rat spontaneously formed fibrocartilage following osteochondral injury and rat normal hyaline cartilage with a comprehensive analysis of the heterogeneous cell subpopulations between two groups. Subsequently, we express and purify the full length of recombinant human Kazald1 protein (aa 31-304) with predicted tertiary and secondary structures, and determine its anti-fibrotic effect and explore its regulatory mechanisms u

SUBMITTER: Zhu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12486400 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature