[Cartilage/chondrocyte research and osteoarthritis. Emerging drugs for Osteoarthritis.].

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a group of diseases and mechanical abnormalities involving degradation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The major complaint of OA patients is persistent knee pain, which significantly decreases patients' activities of daily living. Therefore, most of the current treatment strategies for OA are based on symptom management by anti-inflammatory analgesics and improving joint mobility and flexibility by programed exercise and weight control. Recent progress in the field of cartilage metabolism led to develop new drug targets those play roles in structural disease modification in osteoarthritic joints.