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Cartilage damage in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis—two unequal siblings

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 11, pages 606–615 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Key Points

  • The molecular mechanisms of cartilage breakdown in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) show considerable overlap, particularly with respect to matrix-degrading enzymes, but also with respect to some inflammatory mediators

  • The loss of phenotypic stability of articular chondrocytes, and initiation of a programme resembling aspects of embryonic endochondral ossification, could explain important features of OA

  • In contrast to OA, RA is associated with a stable, tumour-like activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes that mediate the destruction of articular cartilage through directed invasion

  • Cartilage has active roles in OA and RA as a signalling scaffold harbouring bioactive matrix components and soluble factors, which interact with embedded chondrocytes and are released upon cartilage degradation

Abstract

Cartilage damage is a key feature of degenerative joint disorders—primarily osteoarthritis (OA)—and chronic inflammatory joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Substantial progress has been made towards understanding the mechanisms that lead to degradation of the cartilage matrix in either condition, which ultimately results in the progressive remodelling of affected joints. The available data have shown that the molecular steps in cartilage matrix breakdown overlap in OA and RA. However, they have also, to a great extent, changed our view of the roles of cartilage in the pathogenesis of these disorders. In OA, cartilage loss occurs as part of a complex programme that resembles aspects of embryonic bone formation through endochondral ossification. In RA, early cartilage damage is a key trigger of cellular reactions in the synovium. In a proposed model of RA as a site-specific manifestation of a systemic autoimmune disorder, early cartilage damage in the context of immune activation leads to a specific cellular response within articular joints that could explain not only the organ specificity of RA, but also the chronic nature and perpetuation of the disease.

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Figure 1: Interaction of cartilage matrix and chondrocytes in OA.
Figure 2: Cartilage damage in RA triggers the tissue response and FLS activation.
Figure 3: Comparison of OA and RA.

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Acknowledgements

T.P. received funding from the German Research Foundation (SFB1009 TP08 and PA689/7). T.P. and A.K.P. received funding from the German National Ministry of Education and Research (01EC1008D).

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  1. Institute of Experimental Musculoskeletal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Domagkstrasse 3, Münster, D-48149, Germany

    Thomas Pap & Adelheid Korb-Pap

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Both authors researched the data for the article and provided a substantial contribution to discussions of the content, and contributed equally to writing the article and to review and editing of the manuscript before submission.

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Pap, T., Korb-Pap, A. Cartilage damage in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis—two unequal siblings. Nat Rev Rheumatol 11, 606–615 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2015.95

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