ESPE Abstracts

Background: Articular cartilage is closely related to epiphyseal growth plate cartilage with one major discriminant: while epiphyseal growth plate cartilage is transformed into bone by endochondral ossification, epiphyseal growth plate cartilage remains stable in a healthy situation. In contrast in diseases like osteoarthritis articular cartilage acquires characteristics of epiphyseal growth plate cartilage. The underlying molecular pathophysiology is largely unknown.<p cl...