The differentiated phenotype of chondrocyte is rapidly lost during in vitro culture by a
process designated" dedifferentiation." In this study, we investigate the roles of protein
kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the maintenance
of the differentiated chondrocyte phenotype. Chondrocytes isolated from rabbit articular
cartilage underwent dedifferentiation upon serial monolayer culture with cessation of type II
collagen expression and proteoglycan synthesis, which was reversed by culturing …