Expression of CD44 in articular cartilage is associated with disease severity in knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate CD44 levels in articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the relationship between CD44 and severity of the disease. METHODS: All 50 cartilage tissues included normal and OA cartilage, and were ascribed to the following four groups on the basis of modified Mankin score: normal, mild lesions, moderate lesions and severe lesions. CD44 levels in articular cartilage were assessed by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: CD44 levels were detected in all four groups. The difference in average gray value of CD44 expression showed statistical significance when compared between each group (P < 0.05). In addition, CD44 expression in each group correlated with disease severity, according to the modified Mankin score (ρ = -0.848, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CD44 in articular cartilage is associated with progressive knee OA joint damage.