Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy
Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease habitually linked to ageing, characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage leading to pain and reduced mobility. Historically viewed as mainly a “wear and tear” condition, new insights suggest that OA may be part of an evolutionary,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665913125000603 |
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| author | Peter M. van der Kraan |
| author_facet | Peter M. van der Kraan |
| author_sort | Peter M. van der Kraan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease habitually linked to ageing, characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage leading to pain and reduced mobility. Historically viewed as mainly a “wear and tear” condition, new insights suggest that OA may be part of an evolutionary, age-related biological process rather than mainly driven by mechanical damage. Design: This conceptual paper discusses the model of antagonistic pleiotropy that proposes that certain genes beneficial early in life may contribute to diseases in the context of OA. Results: Findings indicate that OA is connected to biological and not to chronological age supporting the idea that OA is not merely a wear and tear process. Chondrocyte hypertrophy, essential in endochondral bone formation at a (pre)reproductive age, is stimulated by a displaced and wrongly timed endochondral ossification quasi-program in age-related OA. Age-related chondrocyte hypertrophic differentiation in articular cartilage is likely driven by loss of loading-induced TGF-β signaling. Conclusion: Comprehending OA within this evolutionary and biological frame provides a solid alternative to the theory of “wear and tear”, offering insights into further understanding, prevention and disease management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00fe7cd2436f40aaa0bbb49cb4d9f78b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2665-9131 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-00fe7cd2436f40aaa0bbb49cb4d9f78b2025-08-20T03:47:36ZengElsevierOsteoarthritis and Cartilage Open2665-91312025-09-017310062410.1016/j.ocarto.2025.100624Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophyPeter M. van der Kraan0Radboudumc, Rheumatology, Experimental Rheumatology, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the NetherlandsObjective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease habitually linked to ageing, characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage leading to pain and reduced mobility. Historically viewed as mainly a “wear and tear” condition, new insights suggest that OA may be part of an evolutionary, age-related biological process rather than mainly driven by mechanical damage. Design: This conceptual paper discusses the model of antagonistic pleiotropy that proposes that certain genes beneficial early in life may contribute to diseases in the context of OA. Results: Findings indicate that OA is connected to biological and not to chronological age supporting the idea that OA is not merely a wear and tear process. Chondrocyte hypertrophy, essential in endochondral bone formation at a (pre)reproductive age, is stimulated by a displaced and wrongly timed endochondral ossification quasi-program in age-related OA. Age-related chondrocyte hypertrophic differentiation in articular cartilage is likely driven by loss of loading-induced TGF-β signaling. Conclusion: Comprehending OA within this evolutionary and biological frame provides a solid alternative to the theory of “wear and tear”, offering insights into further understanding, prevention and disease management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665913125000603OsteoarthritisEndochondral ossificationChondrocyte hypertrophyAgeingEvolution |
| spellingShingle | Peter M. van der Kraan Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open Osteoarthritis Endochondral ossification Chondrocyte hypertrophy Ageing Evolution |
| title | Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| title_full | Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| title_fullStr | Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| title_short | Osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy: Biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| title_sort | osteoarthritis as an evolutionary legacy biological ageing and chondrocyte hypertrophy |
| topic | Osteoarthritis Endochondral ossification Chondrocyte hypertrophy Ageing Evolution |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665913125000603 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT petermvanderkraan osteoarthritisasanevolutionarylegacybiologicalageingandchondrocytehypertrophy |