Leveraging hsp70 to protect chondrocytes from apoptosis progression after joint injury

Purpose: Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a common occurrence after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Joint injury triggers healthy chondrocytes into apoptotic death. Apoptosis expands in the days following joint injury, stimulating a pro-inflammatory and catabolic joint environment which contributes to progressive joint damage. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) had been reported to be an anti-apoptotic regulator that can be upregulated in response to stressful environments providing resistance to mammalian cells.