title: [Progress of research in osteoarthritis. An overview of the recent knowledge on osteoarthritis: pathogenesis, evaluation and therapies].
abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that causes physical disability in many elderly people. Multiple risk factors, including age, gender, genetics, overuse, trauma and obesity, are involved in the onset and progression of OA. Various biological and molecular events that occur in OA joint have been intensively studied and there is an increasing appreciation of the contribution of joint tissues in addition to cartilage. Recent investigations are further deepening the understanding on the importance of matrix-degrading enzymes, chondrocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, subchondral bone metabolism, cytokines and inflammation. All these serve as therapeutic targets. However, there are currently no clinical interventions proven to restore cartilage and inhibit disease processes. With research efforts for the identification of better therapeutic target together with reliable imaging and biomarkers for evaluation, we expect to have guide for potential disease-modifying agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Toyama.
authors.forename: Tomoatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D017209:Apoptosis; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines; D055808:Drug Discovery; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007249:Inflammation; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D010450:Endopeptidases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C083641:aggrecanase