We have detected DNA binding activity for a synthetic oligonucleotide containing an Sp1 consensus sequence in nuclear extracts from human chondrocytes. Changes in the levels of Sp1 oligonucleotide binding activity were examined in nuclear extracts from freshly isolated human chondrocytes, from chondrocytes that had been cultured under conditions that allowed the maintenance of a chondrocyte-spe...

OBJECTIVES To compare the proliferative and chondrogenic potential of fresh and frozen chondrocytes isolated from superficial and deep articular cartilage biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY The study included 12 samples of fresh and frozen healthy human knee articular cartilage. Cell proliferation was tested at 3, 6 and 9 days. Studies of mRNA quantification, protein expression and immunoflu...

OBJECTIVE To set up a natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of intervertebral discs of rats in order to offer an appropriate carrier for the study on mechanism of intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS The method of enzyme digestion combined with natural subculture was used to set up the in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from the endplat...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a selective cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (celecoxib) comparing diclofenac. METHODS Using chondrocytes derived from cartilage of non-arthritic (NA) subjects or patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we examined the effects of celecoxib on incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 35S-sulfate, apoptosis, an...

In developing murine growth plates, chondrocytes near the articular surface (periarticular chondrocytes) proliferate, differentiate into flat column-forming proliferating cells (columnar chondrocytes), stop dividing and finally differentiate into hypertrophic cells. Indian hedgehog (Ihh), which is predominantly expressed in prehypertrophic cells, stimulates expression of parathyroid hormone (PT...

ABSTRACT Osteoarthritis (OA) seriously affects people's quality of life due to joint pain, stiffness, disability, and dyskinesia worldwide. Long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1) is downregulated tightly associated with proliferation, migration, apoptosis, matrix synthesis chondrocyte in OA. However, the molecular mechanisms ZFAS1 OA remain unknown. The expression correlation betwee...

During endochondral bone formation, chondrocytes in the cartilaginous anlage of long bones progress through a spatially and temporally regulated differentiation program before being replaced by bone. To understand this process, we have characterized the differentiation program and analyzed the relationship between chondrocytes and their extracellular environment in the regulation of the program...

INTRODUCTION Hypoxia is considered to be a positive influence on the healthy chondrocyte phenotype and cartilage matrix formation. However, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Thus, we assessed whether healthy and OA chondrocytes have distinct responses to oxygen, particularly with regard to hypertrophy and degradation during rediffe...

INTRODUCTION Disorders that affect glucose metabolism, namely diabetes mellitus (DM), may favor the development and/or progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Thus far, little is known regarding the ability of chondrocytes to adjust to variations in the extracellular glucose concentration, resulting from hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia episodes, and so, to avoid deleterious effects resulting from de...

Abstract Background Hypertrophy is a critical process for chondrocyte differentiation and maturation during endochondral ossification, which responsible the formation of long bone postnatal longitudinal growth. Increasing evidence suggests that melatonin, an indole hormone, plays pivotal role in chondrogenesis. However, little known about effects melatonin on terminal chondrocytes. Methods Mese...