Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (556 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A non-vascular form of connective tissue composed of chondrocytes embedded in a matrix that includes chondroitin sulfate and various types of fibrillar collagen. There are three major types: hyaline cartilage; fibrocartilage; and elastic cartilage.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Cartilages.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Musculoskeletal System; Connective Tissue
- Narrower topics
- Elastic Cartilage; Fibrocartilage; Hyaline Cartilage
- See also
- Chondroitin
Related concepts
- Chondrocytes
- Chondroitin Sulfate
- Fibrillar Collagen
- Hyaline Cartilage
- Fibrocartilage
- Elastic Cartilage
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 103,374 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Cartilage” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 18,390 of them (17.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 37,418 records.
Reviews account for 10,370 records (10.0%) and meta-analyses for 384. Randomized controlled trials number 1,216 (1.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 37,418 |
| 2000-2009 | 19,594 |
| 2010-2019 | 27,972 |
| 2020 onward | 18,390 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 10,370 | 10.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 384 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,216 | 1.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Cartilage"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROS-Responsive Wedelolactone Hydrogel Promotes Intervertebral Disc Repair by Disrupting the NF-κB-LCN2 Inflammatory Feedback Loop | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 8 | cc by PMID 41487054 · DOI · PMC12970162 |
| Synovial fibroblast responses to different types of injury resulting in cartilage repair or osteoarthritis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41490604 · DOI · PMC13338840 |
| Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Meniscal Repair and Regeneration | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41497500 · DOI · PMC12767592 |
ROS-Responsive Wedelolactone Hydrogel Promotes Intervertebral Disc Repair by Disrupting the NF-κB-LCN2 Inflammatory Feedback Loop [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is driven by persistent inflammation-oxidative stress that disrupts annulus fibrosus (AF) homeostasis.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, these findings establish that aligning molecular targeting (NF-κB-LCN2 modulation) with the pathophysiological context via ROS-gated delivery provides a synergistic strategy for AF repair and attenuation of IVDD progression.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (186 words)
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is driven by persistent inflammation-oxidative stress that disrupts annulus fibrosus (AF) homeostasis. Guided by network pharmacology and docking, we prioritized the NF-κB-LCN2 axis as a druggable target of wedelolactone (WDL). To achieve targeted modulation, we engineered a dual-network ROS-responsive hydrogel (WPG) in which a phenylboronic-ester/PVA redox-cleavable network interpenetrates a covalently crosslinked GelMA-elastin matrix, enabling mechanically robust yet stimulus-triggered WDL release. WDL suppressed NF-κB activation and downregulated LCN2 in both macrophages and AF cells. Conditioned-medium co-culture demonstrated that WDL disrupts macrophage-derived LCN2-mediated paracrine amplification, breaking the self-sustaining inflammatory loop. Bulk RNA-seq across both cell types revealed coordinated downregulation of NF-κB - driven chemokine cascades and restoration of adhesion and ECM gene programs following WPG treatment. In a rat AF-defect model, intradiscal WPG administration preserved disc height and T2-weighted MRI signal, reduced MMP13 while increasing Collagen I and Aggrecan expression, suppressed nuclear P-p65 and LCN2, and improved segment biomechanics-without eliciting adverse hematological or organ responses. Collectively, these findings establish that aligning molecular targeting (NF-κB-LCN2 modulation) with the pathophysiological context via ROS-gated delivery provides a synergistic strategy for AF repair and attenuation of IVDD progression.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41487054 · DOI · PMC12970162
Synovial fibroblast responses to different types of injury resulting in cartilage repair or osteoarthritis [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveSingle-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has advanced our understanding of the heterogeneity of synovial fibroblasts and their roles in tissue repair and osteoarthritis.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsThis study uncovers similarities and differences in synovial fibroblast responses between injury models, guiding future research on joint repair and osteoarthritis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (243 words)
ObjectiveSingle-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has advanced our understanding of the heterogeneity of synovial fibroblasts and their roles in tissue repair and osteoarthritis. Here, we compared the fibroblast responses to different types and duration of joint injury in mice.DesignPublished scRNA-seq data of synovial fibroblasts from a model of joint surface injury (JSI, day 6) and two post-traumatic osteoarthritis models, destabilisation of the medial meniscus (DMM, day 7 and 2 months) and anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR, day 7 and day 28), were integrated and analysed using clustering, DEG, gene-set enrichment, regulon, pseudotime trajectory and cell-cycle analyses.ResultsThe response to JSI was comparatively dominated by lining progenitor and fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) expansion, while DMM and ACLR induced transient expansion of perturbed-state fibroblasts (PSF) containing a myofibroblast subset, followed by FLS expansion over time. Early injury responses were underpinned by proliferating cells that directly supplied new PSF and FLS. Molecular pathway analysis revealed rapid and sustained injury-induced transcriptomic shifts in both lining and sublining fibroblasts, with post-traumatic OA models in particular showing marked upregulation of matrix-related genes indicative of myofibroblast activity and tissue remodeling. Activity of regulons associated with the PSF response, including Hes6, Hif1α, Zfp354c, Runx1 and Foxp1, showed model and stage-dependent upregulation. Finally, co-expression of lineage-specifying transcription factors Sox9, Runx2 and Scx, indicative of multilineage potential, was a common feature of PSF in all injury models.ConclusionsThis study uncovers similarities and differences in synovial fibroblast responses between injury models, guiding future research on joint repair and osteoarthritis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41490604 · DOI · PMC13338840
Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Meniscal Repair and Regeneration [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Meniscal injuries present a significant clinical challenge due to the limited self-healing capacity of avascular regions and the unsatisfactory long-term outcomes of current repair strategies.
- Closing excerpt
- Despite remaining challenges in mechanical durability and long-term stability, these developments position collagen-based scaffolds as a promising avenue toward clinically viable meniscal repair solutions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (127 words)
Meniscal injuries present a significant clinical challenge due to the limited self-healing capacity of avascular regions and the unsatisfactory long-term outcomes of current repair strategies. Collagen, the primary structural component of the meniscal extracellular matrix (ECM), plays a crucial role in maintaining its biomechanical integrity and guiding tissue regeneration. This review summarizes recent advances in collagen scaffolds technology, focusing on materials, collagen extraction, and scaffold fabrication methods, as well as their in vivo interactions with cells that regulate tissue regeneration. The mechanical enhancement of collagen scaffolds through crosslinking and reinforcement with synthetic polymers is discussed, alongside strategies for controlled degradation and biological integration. Despite remaining challenges in mechanical durability and long-term stability, these developments position collagen-based scaffolds as a promising avenue toward clinically viable meniscal repair solutions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41497500 · DOI · PMC12767592
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Meniscal repair outcomes at greater than five years: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article A meta-analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterior horn medial meniscus root repairs [5]
- Research article Complications associated with autologous rib cartilage use in rhinoplasty: a meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Cricoid pressure [7]
- Research article Is magnetic resonance imaging reliable in predicting clinical outcome after articular cartilage repair of the knee? A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Systematic review and meta-analysis of the reliability and discriminative validity of cartilage compositional MRI in knee osteoarthritis [9]
References
- Wu Z, Xu Y, Qin L, Ling Z, Mai Y, Guo XT, et al.. ROS-Responsive Wedelolactone Hydrogel Promotes Intervertebral Disc Repair by Disrupting the NF-κB-LCN2 Inflammatory Feedback Loop. . 2026. PMID 41487054 · DOI · PMC12970162
- Collins FL, Knights AJ, Maerz T, Roelofs AJ, De Bari C. Synovial fibroblast responses to different types of injury resulting in cartilage repair or osteoarthritis. . 2026. PMID 41490604 · DOI · PMC13338840
- Wang Y, Shepherd J. Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Meniscal Repair and Regeneration. . 2025. PMID 41497500 · DOI · PMC12767592
- Nepple JJ, Dunn WR, Wright RW. Meniscal repair outcomes at greater than five years: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012. PMID 23318612 · DOI · PMC3528023
- Chung KS, Ha JK, Ra HJ, Kim JG. A meta-analysis of clinical and radiographic outcomes of posterior horn medial meniscus root repairs. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016. PMID 26493550 · DOI
- Wee JH, Park MH, Oh S, Jin HR. Complications associated with autologous rib cartilage use in rhinoplasty: a meta-analysis. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2015. PMID 25429595 · DOI
- Brimacombe JR, Berry AM. Cricoid pressure. Can J Anaesth. 1997. PMID 9104526 · DOI
- de Windt TS, Welsch GH, Brittberg M, Vonk LA, Marlovits S, Trattnig S, et al.. Is magnetic resonance imaging reliable in predicting clinical outcome after articular cartilage repair of the knee? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2013. PMID 23364897 · DOI
- MacKay JW, Low SBL, Smith TO, Toms AP, McCaskie AW, Gilbert FJ. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the reliability and discriminative validity of cartilage compositional MRI in knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2018. PMID 29550400 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.