In vitro Evaluation of Biosynthetic Activity of the Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Embedded in Collagen Gel

2002 The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of human osteoarthritic chondrocytes to synthesize the cartilage matrix components: chondroitin sulfate (CS), keratan sulfate (KS) and colagens (COL). The study was performed on cells embedded in type II collagen gel. Specific COL staining and glycosaminoglycan (CS, KS) immunohistochemical examinations demonstrated that the osteoarthritic cartilage cells maintain their anabolic ability. Despite the biosynthetic activity displayed by chondrocytes, a net loss of the extracellular matrix represents the hallmark of all stages of osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration. This leads to the assumption that overall enzymatic degradation of the extracellular matrix components might be the reason for the metabolic imbalance in osteoarthritic cartilage. Type II collagen gel obtained from bovine tracheal cartilage proved to be a good chondrocyte support for studying cartilage extracellular matrix turnover.