Expression of minor cartilage collagens and small leucine rich proteoglycans may be relatively reduced in osteoarthritic cartilage

Background In osteoarthritis (OA), cartilage matrix is lost despite vigorous chondrocyte anabolism. In this study, we attempted to determine whether altered matrix synthesis is involved in this paradox in disease progression through gene expression analysis and ultrastructural analysis of collagen fibrils within the cartilage matrix.