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The Role of TGF-β in Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis

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Post-Traumatic Arthritis

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Abstract

Traumatic injury to the joint predisposes the development of osteoarthritis (OA). Post-traumatic OA (PTOA) shares the common clinical symptom and pathological alterations with nontraumatic OA, except for the etiology. Surgical reconstruction of the joint components fails to successfully prevent the development of PTOA, and there is no effective therapy for this disease currently available. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine, has been found to play an essential role in the pathological process of PTOA. Injury destroys the normal kinematics relationship among the joint components. Excessive TGF-βs are activated in the subchondral bone during osteoclast bone resorption in response to the altered mechanical environment. Excessive activation of TGF-β leads to uncoupled bone remodeling and increased angiogenesis and fibrosis, which eventually results in alterations of micro-architecture and mechanical property in the subchondral bone. The impaired capability of the subchondral bone to dissipate the loading from the joint surface aggravates the degeneration of articular cartilage. The maintenance of TGF-β levels within the normal range is also critical for the homeostasis of articular cartilage. TGF-β is an important anabolic factor that induces chondrocytes proliferation and promotes the synthesis of matrix protein. However, high levels of TGF-β are detrimental to the functional and structural integrity of articular cartilage. Elevated levels of TGF-β have been identified in the synovial system of PTOA joints. TGF-β may primarily serve as a pro-inflammatory factor in the synovium by augmenting the secretion of inflammatory factors by the immune cells. Because the effects of TGF-β may differ according to tissue type within the joint and may vary at different time points, differential and tissue-specific treatments targeting TGF-β signaling may produce optimal therapeutic effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Gehua Zhen & Xu Cao

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  1. Gehua Zhen
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  2. Xu Cao
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Correspondence to Xu Cao .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hip & Knee Reconstruction Surgery Johns Hopkins, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia, MD, USA

    Savyasachi C. Thakkar

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Adult Trauma Service, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Erik A. Hasenboehler

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Zhen, G., Cao, X. (2021). The Role of TGF-β in Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis. In: Thakkar, S.C., Hasenboehler, E.A. (eds) Post-Traumatic Arthritis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50413-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50413-7_1

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