title: Is there crosstalk between subchondral bone, cartilage, and meniscus in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate if there is any crosstalk between subchondral bone, cartilage, and meniscus in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve female patients (mean age 64 years; range 59 to 71 years) with osteoarthritis in medial compartment were included in the study. The samples of subchondral bone, cartilage and meniscus were obtained during total knee arthroplasty. Degenerated tissue samples obtained from medial compartment were used as the experimental group (12 samples of subchondral bone and cartilage, 1x1 cm each; and 12 samples of meniscus, 1x1 cm each). Healthy tissue samples obtained from lateral compartment were used as the control group (12 samples of subchondral bone and cartilage; 1x1 cm each; and 12 samples of meniscus, 1x1 cm each). After decalcification, tissue samples were evaluated with light and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the experimental group, light microscopic evaluation of subchondral bone samples demonstrated that the cartilage-to-bone transition region had an irregular structure. Degenerated cartilage cells were observed in the transition region and bone cells were significantly corrupted. In the experimental group, light microscopic evaluation of the meniscus samples demonstrated that the intercellular tissue was partly corrupted. Separation and concentration of the collagen fibers were evident. All findings were supported with ultra structural evaluations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that degeneration of subchondral bone, cartilage, and meniscus probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis with crosstalk.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medicine Faculty of Gazi University, 06500 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey. satikmd@gmail.com.
authors: O Şahap
authors: OŞ
authors: Atik
authors: Deniz
authors: D
authors: Erdoğan
authors: Cemile Merve
authors: CM
authors: Seymen
authors: Hasan Hüseyin
authors: HH
authors: Bozkurt
authors: Gülnur Take
authors: GT
authors: Kaplanoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000072600:Meniscus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology*; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk