Regulation of osteochondral remodeling by hypertrophic chondrocyte-derived factors during osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose: Osteochondral angiogenesis is an important step in the pathological remodeling of the cartilage-bone interface in osteoarthritis (OA) and could be a crucial driving factor of OA progression. The identification of factors responsible for osteochondral angiogenesis in OA is challenging, as it could be a potential therapeutic target. We hypothesize that the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes within OA cartilage drives osteochondral angiogenesis, as it occurs in the endochondral ossification process during development and growth.