pH-sensing G protein-coupled orphan receptor <i>GPR68</i> is expressed in human cartilage and correlates with degradation of extracellular matrix during OA progression

Abstract

Our results demonstrated that <i>GPR68</i> was robustly expressed in human cartilage and mice and its expression correlates with matrix degeneration and severity of OA progression in human and surgical model. GPR68 activation in human chondrocytes further repressed the expression of MMPs under OA pathological condition. These results identify <i>GPR68</i> as a possible therapeutic target in the regulation of matrix degradation during OA.