Magnesium ions (Mg2+) play an important role in promoting cartilage repair in cartilage lesions. However, no research has focused on the role of Mg2+ combined with microfracture (MFX) in hyaline-like cartilage repair mediated by cartilage injury. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of the combination of MFX and Mg2+ in cartilage repair. A total of 60 rabbits were classified into five groups (n = 12 each): sham, MFX, and three different doses of Mg2+ treatment groups (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mol/L). Bone cartilage defects were created in the trochlear groove cartilage of rabbits. MFX surgery was performed after osteochondral defects. Mg2+ was injected into knee joints immediately and two and four weeks after surgery. At six and 12 weeks after surgery, the rabbits were killed. Cartilage damage was detected by gross observation, micro-CT, and histological analysis. The expression levels of related genes were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Aims
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Therapeutic agents that prevent chondrocyte loss, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and osteoarthritis (OA) progression are required. The expression level of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains-containing protein 3 (EDIL3) in damaged human cartilage is significantly higher than in undamaged cartilage. However, the effect of EDIL3 on cartilage is still unknown. We used human cartilage plugs (ex vivo) and mice with spontaneous OA (in vivo) to explore whether EDIL3 has a chondroprotective effect by altering OA-related indicators.Aims
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