Human Chondrocytes (Osteoarthritis)

Description

Human Chondrocytes (Osteoarthritis), abbreviated as HC-OA, are primary cells isolated from the articular cartilage of adult donors clinically diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA). These cells reflect the pathological environment of osteoarthritic joints. Osteoarthritis is a progressive degenerative joint disorder characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage, primarily mediated by the upregulated expression of catabolic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases (e.g., ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5), which disrupt extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity. In vitro, HC-OA exhibit an adherent growth phenotype and display a fibroblast-like morphology, ranging from polygonal to spindle-shaped forms. Under monolayer culture conditions, these cells tend to dedifferentiate, losing their native chondrocytic phenotype while retaining characteristic features of osteoarthritic cartilage. Functionally, OA chondrocytes demonstrate an initial increase in anabolic and catabolic activity in response to mechanical or inflammatory stimuli, however, they exhibit a limited capacity for ECM repair and regeneration. Instead, these cells often undergo terminal differentiation and apoptosis, contributing to cartilage calcification in a process that resembles endochondral ossification.