Articular Cartilage Degradation in Osteoarthritis

The composition and cellular organization of human adult articular cartilage are complex with qualitative and quantitative differences in matrix constituents ranging from the superficial through deep zones and between the interterritorial and territorial, or pericellular, regions.Chondrocytes, the unique cellular component of articular cartilage, maintain the matrix components under normal, low turnover conditions in which the glycosaminoglycans on proteoglycans and other noncollagen molecules can be replaced.The pericellular matrix is also important, with constituents such as collagen VI, fibromodulin, and matrilin 3, but little or no type II collagen.