Human Articular Chondrocytes

Description

Human Articular Chondrocytes are primary cells isolated from normal human articular cartilage of the articular skeleton and cryopreserved post-primary culture. In vitro, they exhibit a rounded to polygonal morphology and adhere in monolayer. These cells express cartilage-specific markers including type II collagen, aggrecan, and S100 protein, supporting their chondrogenic identity. They play key roles in cartilage development, extracellular matrix maintenance, and responses to biomechanical or inflammatory cues. Altered function or gene expression in these cells is implicated in joint pathologies such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Owing to their physiological relevance, human articular chondrocytes are widely employed in studies of interactions between fibroblasts and chondrocytes, cartilage biology, joint disease modeling, tissue engineering, and preclinical drug evaluation.