[Joint cartilage differentiation and osteoarthritis]

During skeletal development, the mechanisms of formation, differentiation and maturation of the cartilage are important steps in the skeleton morphogenesis; these mechanisms regulate growth of long bones and joint formation. Although cartilage in the growth plate and articular cartilage are very similar, they have some differences in the differentiation mechanisms. Growth plate cartilage regulates the growth of long bones by cartilage substitution of bone, while articular cartilage is maintained by delay of chondrocyte maturation and hypertrophy. Maybe, the mechanism of cartilage maturation is activated and increased during osteoarthritis, resulting in loss of the biomechanical properties required by the joints to resist the impact required by the skeleton to move.