[Research progress of calcified cartilage zone].
OBJECTIVE
To review the structure and function of the calcified cartilage zone and its role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
Recent literature about calcified zone was reviewed and analyzed in terms of architecture, composition, biomechanics, and biological function.


RESULTS
Calcified zone has particular structure and material properties, and functions as a semipermeable membrane; chondrocytes in the calcified zone retain some characteristics of growth plate cells, which play a crucial role in cartilage function maintenance and pathogenesis of OA. Therefore, reconstruction of the calcified zone at osteochondral conjunction has become one of the hot research in the fields of interface tissue engineering.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to pay more attention to calcified cartilage zone, which is important for both the treatment of OA and the preparation of tissue engineered osteochondral composite.
Center for Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Wei
W
Song
Fuyou
F
Wang
Liu
L
Yang
D001168:Arthritis / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology*; D006132:Growth Plate; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering