Origin and function of cartilage stem/progenitor cells in osteoarthritis

摘要: Articular cartilage is a physiologically non-self-renewing avascular tissue with singular cell type, the chondrocyte, which functions as load-bearing surface of arthrodial joint. Injury to often progresses spatiotemporally from articular subchondral bone, leading development degenerative joint diseases such osteoarthritis (OA). Although lacking intrinsic reparative ability, has been shown contain population stem cells or progenitor cells, similar those found in many other adult tissues, that are thought be involved maintenance homeostasis. These so-called cartilage-derived stem/progenitor (CSPCs) have observed human, equine and bovine cartilage, identified, isolated characterized on basis expression stem-cell-related markers, clonogenicity multilineage differentiation ability. However, origin CSPCs incompletely understood. We review here current status CSPC research discuss possible these what role they might repair, their therapeutic potential OA.