| Theme |
Cell biology cartilage |
| Title |
Growth factors and chondrocytes |
| Author |
Satoshi Kubota |
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry |
| Author |
Masaharu Takigawa |
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry |
| [ Summary ] |
Cartilage tissues can be classified into two distinct groups. One is temporary cartilage that would be eventually substituted by bone, whereas the other is permanent cartilage. The typical example of the former one is the growth plate cartilage, in which chondrocytes are under the control of a number of growth factors and hormones during endochondral ossification. In this review, we summarize this process in terms of the regulation by growth factors with a special emphasis on connective tissue growth factor/hypertrophic chondrocyte-specific gene product 24. Similarly, the roles of such growth factor in articular cartilage are described. Interaction between these growth factors and hormones is also discussed herein. |