THE ROLE OF CHONDROCYTE SENESCENCE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF OSTEOARTHRITIS AND IN LIMITING CARTILAGE REPAIR

Abstract

These findings help to explain the previously reported age-related declines in chondrocyte synthetic activity, mitotic activity, and responsiveness to anabolic cytokines and mechanical stimuli. They also suggest that in vivo chondrocyte senescence contributes to the age-related increase in the prevalence of osteoarthritis and decrease in the efficacy of cartilage repair. The creation of immortal cells with increased telomere length suggests that the progression of human chondrocytes toward senescence is not inevitable.