Collagen Type IV and Laminin Expressions during Cartilage Repair and in Late Clinically Failed Repair Tissues from Human Subjects

Here, the authors evaluate the expressions of Col4 and laminin in the pericellular matrix (PCM) in damaged cartilage and during cartilage repair. Laminin isoform111 has been identified in adult articular cartilage and laminin 332 in embryonic cartilage. While the interterritorial ECM is composed mainly of collagen type II and proteoglycans, the PCM consists mainly of collagen type IV and laminin. Collagen type IV and laminin were not found in the interterritorial ECM of normal cartilage and traumatically damaged cartilage. Depleted laminin expression levels in osteoarthritic articular cartilage.