Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belong to the most common forms of arthitis worldwide. They are a major cause of disability, resulting in pain and loss of function. The common aspect of both diseases is an increase of inflammatory mediators within the affected joint. These pathologic changes include the affection of circulation mediators released by adipose tissue, known as adipocytokines. In this study we examined the effect of two major adipocytokines, adiponectin and leptin and their interaction with chondrogenic progenitor cells (CPC), derived from human cartilage.
