Abstract
Human cartilage tissue was found to produce two types of proteoglycan monomers distinguished by density gradient centrifugation under dissociative conditions and with different molecular sizes (PGI and PGII) as shown in cultured rabbit costal chondrocyte.The incorporation of 35S-sulf late and distribution of the molecular sizes of PG were studied to determine the differentiated phenotypes of chondrocyte in osteoarthritic hip cartilaginous tissues (weight-bearing area of the femoral head, non-weight bearing area of femoral head, primary (original) aetabulum and secondery acetabulum) . The tissue from the weight-bearing area showed the highest incorporation of 35S-into PG and produced PGI with larger molecular size. The primary acetabulum lost its cartilaginous properties and produced PGII only. On the other hand, the secondary acetabulum produced relatively large PG molecules suggesting cartilagenous differentiation of mesenchymal cells.
