Pathomechanisms of Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis: Chondrocyte Behavior and Fate in a Precarious Environment

• Main Authors: Jana Riegger, Rolf E. Brenner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: posttraumatic osteoarthritis; therapy; chondrocytes; oxidative stress; damp release; synovial inflammation; cspc; cell death; catabolism; anabolism
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/5/1560

Traumatic injuries of the knee joint result in a wide variety of pathomechanisms, which contribute to the development of so-called posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). These pathogenetic processes include oxidative stress, excessive expression of catabolic enzymes, release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and synovial inflammation. The present review focuses on the underlying pathomechanisms of PTOA and in particular the behavior and fate of the surviving chondrocytes, comprising chondrocyte metabolism, regulated cell death, and phenotypical changes comprising hypertrophy and senescence. Moreover, possible therapeutic strategies, such as chondroanabolic stimulation, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory treatment, as well as novel therapeutic targets are discussed.