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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

chondrogenic differentiation, adult hepatic stem cells, investigating candidates, osteoarthritis

College

Life Sciences

Department

Microbiology and Molecular Biology

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a painful disease associated with the breakdown of articular cartilage, the protective protein coating of the major joints of the body. Over 20 million Americans are affected by this pervasive disease which is associated with the overuse of joints and aging. Osteoarthritis occurs when the proteins that compose articular cartilage are degraded by repetitive use and injury. These actions can lead to swelling, tearing, or flaking off of the cartilage at the surface of the bone. When cartilage loses its integrity in this manner the amount of friction in the joint greatly increases and the patient begins to experience pain, swelling, and increasingly limited function at the affected site.

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Microbiology Commons

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