Hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation mediates osteochondral angiogenesis through sdf-1/cxcr4 axis during osteoarthritis

Purpose: Osteochondral angiogenesis is an important step in the pathological remodeling of the cartilage-bone interface in osteoarthritis (OA) and could be a crucial driving factor of OA progression. The identification of factors responsible for osteochondral angiogenesis in OA is challenging, as they could be potential therapeutic targets. We hypothesize that the hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes within OA cartilage drives osteochondral angiogenesis, as it occurs in the endochondral ossification process during development and growth.