The role of growth factors in cartilage metabolism

The formation of articular cartilage defects in osteoarthritis arise due to an imbalance between biosynthetic and catabolic processes affecting the extracellular matrix. The compensatory synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins required to re-established normal cartilage homeostasis may be compromised by the failure of affected chondrocytes to respond to growth-stimulating peptides. Growth factors and cytokines may act synergistically to attenuate or boost chondrocyte responses. An understanding of how chondrocytes in osteoarthritic joints respond to growth factors could aid in the development of a rationale for designing new therapies to control the progression of osteoarthritic pathology.