[Chondrocyte metabolism may be regulated through the interaction with the extracellular matrix]

Articular chondrocytes are the sole type of cell that resides within articular cartilage. The chondrocytes are very sensitive to the matrix around the cells. This is best illustrated by the dramatic change in cell shape and metabolism that occurs during monolayer culture. Although this change, or dedifferentiation, has been known for decades, an underlying mechanism (s) for the change has not yet been determined. Recently, we have reported thatαvβ5 integrin is significantly involved in the change through the activation of ERK signaling. This review describes our recent findings about the dedifferentiation of monolayer-cultured chondrocytes.