Cartilage is a strong yet flexible connective tissue rich in a specialized extracellular matrix. This matrix is primarily composed of three key components:
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Collagen fibers: These provide the structural strength and tensile strength to cartilage, allowing it to withstand significant forces. Different types of collagen are found in varying amounts depending on the type of cartilage. For example, squid cartilage contains primarily Type I collagen, rich in hydroxylysine-linked carbohydrate. [^1]
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Proteoglycans: These large molecules attract and bind water, giving cartilage its resilience and ability to absorb shock. They contribute significantly to the compressive strength and elasticity of cartilage.
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Elastin fibers: These provide elasticity and flexibility to cartilage, allowing it to recoil after deformation. They're particularly abundant in elastic cartilage, such as that found in the ear.
While the extracellular matrix is the primary component determining cartilage's properties, research also highlights the role of growth factors in cartilage healing and regeneration. Studies have explored the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), which contains a concentrated cocktail of growth factors and inflammatory mediators, to improve cartilage healing in conditions like articular cartilage avulsions and degenerative joint diseases. [^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ^6, ^7, ^8, ^9, ^10, ^11] These growth factors, while not a direct component of the cartilage matrix itself, significantly influence its repair and regeneration processes.
[^1]: Squid cartilage collagen: Isolation of type I collagen rich in ... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0305049185903268
[^2]: Plasma rich in growth factors to treat an articular cartilage avulsion ... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14523300/
[^3]: Intra-osseous plasma rich in growth factors enhances cartilage and ... https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1131666/full
[^4]: Comparative effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma injections for ... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24291594/
[^5]: Biology of platelet-rich plasma and its clinical application in cartilage ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3978832/
[^6]: Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on ... https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786501
[^7]: Comparative evaluation of leukocyte-and platelet-rich plasma and ... https://www.nature.com/articles/srep43301
[^8]: The Dual-Responsive Interaction of Particulated Hyaline Cartilage ... https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/14/11581
[^9]: Platelet-rich plasma to treat ankle cartilage pathology - from ... https://jeo-esska.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40634-015-0019-z
[^10]: Platelet rich plasma combined with arthroscopic microfracture ... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10250990/
[^11]: Cartilage is made up of specialized cells called chondrocytes. These chondrocytes produce large amounts of extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibres, proteoglycan, and elastin fibers.
