[Progress of research in osteoarthritis. Involvement of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis].

The prevalence of osteoarthritis rises directly with age. Articular chondrocytes exhibit an age-related increase in the cytokine and MMPs and decline in synthetic capacity of growth factors. They also exhibited the increased the senescence marker (SA-betagal, p53, p21 and p16 activity) and telomere shortening. Recent studies demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause the stress-induced senescence. ROS also were induced with the mechanical stress loaded on the chondrocyte. These data suggest the involvement of ROS formation stimulated by mechanical stress in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.