Cartilage contribution to gender differences in joint disease progression. A study with rat articular cartilage

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a worse prognosis in females and is influenced by sex hormone changes. Similar observations in osteoarthritis support the hypothesis that gender differences in cartilage make a hitherto unrecognized contribution to gender differences in arthritis. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential gender differences in articular cartilage biochemistry, metabolism and response to inflammatory mediators