Vol.23 No.6

Original Article

Expression of CD44 in articular cartilage is associated with disease severity in knee osteoarthritis

Authors

Fang-Jie Zhang1 , Wei Luo1 , Shu-Guang Gao1, 2 , Da-Zhi Su3 , Yu-Sheng Li1 , Chao Zeng1 , Guang-Hua Lei1, 2

  • Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, Hunan, China
  • Orthopaedics Institute of Central South University, #87 Xiangya Road, 410008 Changsha, Hunan, China
  • Department of Orthopaedics, Zhuzhou No. 1 Hospital, No. 23 Station Road, 412000 Zhuzhou, Hunan, China
Received:

4 June 2012

Accepted:

11 December 2012

Published online:

3 January 2013

Full Text

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Abstract

Objectives To investigate CD44 levels in articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the relationship between CD44 and severity of the disease.
Methods All 50 cartilage tissues included normal and OA cartilage, and were ascribed to the following four groups on the basis of modified Mankin score: normal, mild lesions, moderate lesions and severe lesions. CD44 levels in articular cartilage were assessed by immunohistochemical methods.
Results CD44 levels were detected in all four groups. The difference in average gray value of CD44 expression showed statistical significance when compared between each group (P%ABST%.05). In addition, CD44 expression in each group correlated with disease severity, according to the modified Mankin score (q = -0.848, P%ABST%.01).
Conclusions CD44 in articular cartilage is associated with progressive knee OA joint damage.

Key words

Articular cartilage, CD44, Osteoarthritis