Co-culture with osteoblasts up-regulates glycolysis of chondrocytes through MAPK/HIF-1 pathway.

It is well recognized that the neighbor location between cartilage layer and subchondral bone facilitates the intercellular communication and material exchange. However, the evidence that demonstrates the influence of direct communication between cartilage and subchondral bone on their cell behaviors are still partially unknown. In the current study, we established a co-culture system of chondrocytes and osteoblasts aiming to explore the changes of intracellular metabolism of chondrocytes induced by osteoblasts.