Background: Loss of articular cartilage is one of the major signs of osteoarthritis (OA). Aggrecan, the main proteoglycan component of the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage is cleaved by ...
Cartilage’s biomechanical properties – it is strong but flexible – are due to cells called chondrocytes secreting large amounts of collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM), which surrounds ...