Inhibition of the tyrosine kinase receptor EPHA2 decreases hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

Purpose: During osteoarthritis, articular chondrocytes become hypertrophic leading to the degradation of cartilage extracellular matrix, promoting the progression of the disease. Therefore, a drug that inhibits hypertrophy would be a promising disease modifying OA drug. Previously, we identified that expression of Ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2), a tyrosine kinase, is increased in chondrocytes during hypertrophic differentiation in the mouse growth plate. Whether EphA2 plays a role in human articular chondrocyte hypertrophy in OA is unknown.