“
“This review focuses on recent findings in pathobiology of osteoarthritis (OA). The progress in this field will be illustrated based on three questions; 1. What factors maintain or alter the articular chondrocyte phenotype?
2. What is the role of inflammation in OA? 3. Is there a role for aging-related genes in OA? Recent findings make it more and more obvious that OA is not a single tissue disease, but that development and progression of OA is the resulted of an integrated complex of local and buy LXH254 systemic factors that contribute to the pathobiology of this widespread disease. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose of review
Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing vessels, whereas vasculogenesis is de-novo capillary formation from endothelial precursor cells (EPCs). Current understanding of the role of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and possibilities of therapeutic intervention should be summarized.
Recent findings
There have been many recent studies on the role of the hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-angiopoietin axis in angiogenesis associated with RA. The role of additional growth
factors, chemokines, cytokines, matrix components selleck kinase inhibitor and adhesion molecules has been further characterized. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) may link inflammation, angiogenesis and atherosclerosis. Junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) and focal adhesion kinases (FAKs) have recently been implicated in inflammatory angiogenesis. Novel information regarding the role of serum amyloid A (SAA) and sphingosine kinase has become available. Most of these angiogenic factors have recently been targeted using various techniques and arthritis models. Whereas angiogenesis is abundant in RA, there is defective EPC function and vasculogenesis leading to atherosclerosis and vascular disease in arthritis.
Treatment with EPCs already under investigation PLX3397 inhibitor in vascular diseases may also be attempted in RA.
Summary
Targeting angiogenesis and restoration of vasculogenesis may be beneficial for the therapy and outcome of RA.”
“Purpose: Biomarkers provide useful diagnostic information by detecting cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis (OA), reflecting disease-relevant biological activity and predicting the course of disease progression. They also serve as surrogate endpoints in the drug discovery process. The aim of this narrative review was to focus on OA biomarker-related papers published between the osteoarthritis research society international (OARSI) 2011 meeting in San Diego and the OARS! 2012 meeting in Barcelona.