Background: Integrins are a family of transmembrane proteins that allow communication between the extracellular matrix and the interior of cells. Chondrocytes, cells of articular cartilage, express integrins and these molecules appear to have a variety of roles including mechanotransduction. Integrins are known to associate with a number of accessory molecules such as CD147 that may act to regu...

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a multifunctional growth factor that promotes proliferation, motility, and morphogenesis in epithelial cells. Recently the HGF receptor, c-met protooncogene product, has been shown to be expressed in developing limb buds (Sonnenberg, E., D. Meyer, M. Weidner, and C. Birchmeiyer, 1993. J. Cell Biol. 123: 223-235), suggesting that some populatio...

The post-mortem examination of an unsuspected case of alkaptonuria revealed extensive ochronosis. Histological examination of undecalcified sections of tracheal, costal, femoral and patellar cartilage revealed, in addition to ochronotic pigment, extensive calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition. Similar deposits were present in intervertebral discs and were related to ossification of ...

Objective(s) Articular cartilage tissue defects cannot be repaired by the proliferation of resident chondrocytes. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is a relatively new therapeutic approach to cover full thickness articular cartilage defects by in vitro grown chondrocytes from the joint of a patient. Therefore, we investigated the redifferentiation capability of human chondrocytes ma...

INTRODUCTION Nerve growth factor (NGF) level is increased in osteoarthritis (OA) joints and is involved in pain associated with OA. Stimuli responsible for NGF stimulation in chondrocytes are unknown. We investigated whether mechanical stress and proinflammatory cytokines may influence NGF synthesis by chondrocytes. METHODS Primary cultures of human OA chondrocytes, newborn mouse articular ch...

Signal regulatory proteins (SIRP) belong to immunoglobulin super family (IgSF) and relate to integrin signaling cascades. It has been shown that SIRPa is expressed in a variety of cells including myeloid cells and neurons. In the present study the expression of this IgSF member in articular chondrocytes was investigated. Methods: Using a panel of anti-SIRPalpha antibodies, immunohistochemistry...

objective(s) articular cartilage tissue defects cannot be repaired by the proliferation of resident chondrocytes. autologous chondrocyte transplantation (act) is a relatively new therapeutic approach to cover full thickness articular cartilage defects by in vitro grown chondrocytes from the joint of a patient. therefore, we investigated the redifferentiation capability of human chondrocytes mai...

signal regulatory proteins (sirp) belong to immunoglobulin super family (igsf) and relate to integrin signaling cascades. it has been shown that sirpa is expressed in a variety of cells including myeloid cells and neurons. in the present study the expression of this igsf member in articular chondrocytes was investigated. methods: using a panel of anti-sirpalpha antibodies, immunohistochemistry,...

OBJECTIVE To develop a tissue culture expansion method for rabbit chondrocytes that promotes robust expansion while preserving chondrogenic potential. DESIGN Rabbit chondrocytes isolated from articular or auricular chondrocytes were assessed for chondrogenic differentiation potential versus population doubling using different expansion and differentiation conditions. Expansion conditions incl...

Tissue-engineering of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc aims to provide patients with TMJ disorders an option to replace diseased tissue with autologous, functional tissue. This study examined clinically relevant cell sources by comparing costal chondrocytes, dermal fibroblasts, a mixture of the two, and TMJ disc cells in a scaffoldless tissue-engineering approach. It was hypothesized that...