Involvement of the p38 MAPK-NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway and COX-2 in the pathobiology of meniscus degeneration in humans |
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Authors: | Papachristou Dionysios J Papadakou Eugenia Basdra Efthimia K Baltopoulos Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos Elias Papavassiliou Athanasios G |
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Affiliation: | Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. |
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Abstract: | Meniscal tears are attributed to either trauma or degeneration processes. Clinical data suggest that meniscal degeneration (MD) is associated with knee osteoarthritis; however, the molecular events underpinning the pathogenesis of MD in humans remain elusive. Here we immunohistochemically examined the expression of p38 MAPK, its phosphorylated/activated form (p-p38), its target NF-kappaB (p50-p65 dimer), and COX-2 in ruptured menisci and investigated their involvement in MD development. Our findings demonstrate increased expression of the p38-NF-kappaB axis elements and COX-2 in disintegrated fibrocartilage, suggesting a role of these molecules in the pathobiochemistry of MD and consequential rupture. |
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