The transient chondrocyte phenotype in osteophytic cartilage - a role of PEDF?

Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) has recently been identified as a factor that is significantly upregulated in late-stage osteoarthritic cartilage in which chondrocytes are confronted with terminal differentiation and cell death. Since PEDF is known to induce cell death of endothelial cells, it may also be responsible for terminal differentiation and cell death in cartilage.

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