Nidogen‐1 and nidogen‐2 in healthy human cartilage and in late‐stage osteoarthritis cartilage

Abstract

Nidogens are involved in human limb development. They occur in healthy articular cartilage and show increased expression, primarily around elongated chondrocytes, in OA cartilage. Therefore, the activities of nidogens might be a sign of cartilage regeneration in late-stage OA. Furthermore, the adhesive character of nidogens, specifically as adhesion proteins for chondrocytes from late-stage OA, as well as the enhanced chondrocyte-nidogen interaction in OA indicate that both proteins play a key role in the pathogenesis of OA and either could be applied as a diagnostic marker.