A Brief Review of Cellular and Molecular Changes in Chondromalacia

Aims: Chondromalacia is a condition that transparent cartilage on the surface of a bone joint turns soft and swollen and followed by the fibrillation, and degeneration of the cartilage. Its exact cause is unknown. We decided to review the existing literature on cellular and tissue changes in cartilage and use them to help future studies in chondromalacia.
Method and Materials: In this study key search was done until March 2025, in databases of science direct, web of science, pubMed, scopus, magiran and google scholar. Keywords were chondromalacia, articular cartilage, genetic, extracellular matrix (ECM), chondroitin sulfate, proteoglycan, collagen, mitochondrial dysfunction and ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS).
Findings: Chondromalacia represents a critical early stage in joint degeneration that, if left untreated, has the potential to progress to severe joint damage. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a good prognosis in patients with chondromalacia and can prevent more serious joint problems.
Conclusion: Studying the molecular system of articular cartilage will not only reveal new pathways that influence the development of cartilage-related diseases, but also pave the way for new therapeutic approaches.