Chondrocyte apoptosis: a cause or consequence of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation and changes in the subchondral bone. Over the last two decades, there has been increasing evidence showing association between cartilage degradation and chondrocyte death, and different types of ce...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
2011
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/2055/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2055/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2055/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/2055/1/Chondrocyte_apoptosis.pdf |
| Summary: | Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation and changes
in the subchondral bone. Over the last two decades, there has been increasing evidence showing association
between cartilage degradation and chondrocyte death, and different types of cell death in cartilage have been
reported, including apoptosis and chondroptosis as well as necrosis, but which of these types of cell death
predominate in OA is debatable. There are also some methodological difficulties in detecting the specific form
of cell death in articular cartilage. Current ‘gold standard’ for detecting chondrocyte death is electron microscopy which suggests that the morphological changes of chondrocytes in OA cartilage are attributed to apoptosis
and/or chondroptosis. However, the current literature appears to suggest that classic apoptosis plays an
important role in OA; but whether chondrocyte apoptosis is a cause or a result of cartilage degeneration in
OA is hotly contested. Studies of suitable animal models, especially longitudinal studies, are needed to
address the cause-and-effect relationship. |
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