Abstract
Cartilage is a dense connective tissue that functions to withstand and distribute load (1). Articular cartilage lines the ends of long bones and distributes loads across the joints. It consists of a dense collagenous matrix (primarily collagen type II, with smaller amounts of other collagens, including types I, V, VI, IX, and XI), embedded in a high concentration of aggregating proteoglycan, aggrecan. The collagen provides tensile properties, and the proteoglycans confer compressive properties and resiliency. There is a sparse population of a single cell type, the chondrocyte, distributed throughout the tissue. These cells synthesize and maintain the cartilaginous matrix in a regulated fashion that involves breakdown of matrix components, release of proteolytic products from the tissue, and synthesis and incorporation of new components into the matrix.
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Schreiber, R.E., Ratcliffe, A. (2000). Tissue Engineering of Cartilage. In: Streuli, C.H., Grant, M.E. (eds) Extracellular Matrix Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 139. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-063-2:301
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-063-2:301
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-624-6
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