Aging cartilage and osteoarthritis--what's the link?
Cartilage aging can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), the most common cause of chronic pain and disability in older adults. Articular cartilage is a unique tissue from the perspective of aging in that the cells (chondrocytes) and the majority of the extracellular matrix proteins experience little turnover, resulting in a tissue that must withstand years of use and can also accumulate years of aging-associated changes. Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) occurs in cartilage, and the potential role of AGEs in the development of OA is being investigated. An age-associated reduction in growth factor signaling and an increase in oxidative stress may also play an important role in the age-OA connection. Further elucidation of mechanisms that affect chondrocyte function with aging should lead to novel interventions designed to slow the aging process in cartilage with the goal of preventing age-associated OA.
Loeser
Richard F
RF
Department of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. rloeser@rush.edu
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced