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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Software-Assisted Quantitative Measurement of Osteoarthritic Subchondral Bone Thickness
Published on: March 18, 2022
[Enhanced expression of caveolin-1 in articular chondrocytes in osteoarthritis]
Yue-qiong Tang1, Zheng-zheng Shan, Sheng-ming Dai
1Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Objective:
To study the expression level of caveolin-1 in articular chondrocytes in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and whether catabolic factor IL-1beta stimulate caveolin-1 expression in articular chondrocytes.
Methods:
In human OA cartilage, caveolin-1 mRNA was investigated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR while caveolin-1 protein was detected by immunohistologic analysis in 8 cases. OA model was prepared by unilateral anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament transection in 20 rats. In cultured OA chondrocytes, caveolin-1 mRNA expression was studied by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and caveolin-1 protein was analyzed by Western blotting.
Results:
In 6 of 8 OA cases, human OA articular cartilage, higher expression levels of both caveolin-1 mRNA and caveolin-1 protein were found in advanced degenerated cartilage than less degenerated cartilage of the same joints. In rat OA model, upregulated caveolin-1 expression was found, which was associated with the degree of cartilage destruction. IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) upregulated caveolin-1 mRNA/protein expression in cultured OA chondrocytes for at least 48 hours.
Conclusion:
Enhanced expression level of caveolin-1 is associated with cartilage degeneration in OA. IL-1beta stimulates caveolin-1 expression in articular chondrocytes, which may be responsible for OA development.
