title: Events in articular chondrocytes with aging.
abstract: It is well accepted that aging is one of the most prominent risk factors for the initiation and progression of osteoarthritis. One of the most pronounced age-related changes in chondrocytes is the exhibition of a senescent phenotype, which is the result of several factors including the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation end products. Compared with a normal chondrocyte, senescent chondrocytes exhibit an impaired ability to respond to many mechanical and inflammatory insults to the articular cartilage. Furthermore, protein secretion is altered in aging chondrocytes, demonstrated by a decrease in anabolic activity and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix-degrading enzymes. Together, these events may make the articular cartilage matrix more susceptible to damage and lead to the onset of osteoarthritis. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying age-related chondrocyte pathophysiology may be critical for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for progressive joint diseases.
authors.affiliation: Leni and Peter W. May Department of Orthopedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Hui B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors