title: Role of medial abrasion phenomenon in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: Osteoarthritis of the knee affects a large population worldwide and is associated with an extremely high economic burden largely attributable to the effects of disability, comorbid disease, and the expense of treatment. Since the initiating events that result in the cartilage degradation are poorly understood, there has been very limited success in demonstrating disease modification in clinical trials of potential therapies. Medial plica related medial abrasion phenomenon has recently been identified to have close relationship with medial compartment osteoarthritis. We hypothesized that this abrasion phenomenon will elicit lifelong interplay between pathologic medial plica and the facing medial femoral condyle and might play a role in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis by both physical and chemical effects. After evaluating current evidence, we designed a study to prove that the concentrations of total protein, cartilage degrading related cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β) and enzyme (matrix metalloproteinase-3) are higher in the medial compartment of the knee having the phenomenon of medial abrasion. The accumulating data and findings about medial abrasion phenomenon might be important for the understanding of the pathogenesis or progression of this common disease. We hope that our hypothesis will stimulate further studies verifying if medial abrasion phenomenon plays more roles in the pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. Further clinical observations for its appropriate treatment based on this hypothesis are also mandatory for the benefits of patients.
authors.affiliation: Joint Center, Tzu-Chi Dalin General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address: srlyu@seed.net.tw.
authors.forename: Shaw-Ruey
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Yue
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jong-Yuh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cherng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Han
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan. Electronic address: chelkc@ccunix.ccu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Lai-Kwan
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013585:Synovitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines