Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40369255›Full record

ArticleGeroScience2026

Cartilage degradation is followed by PAC1 receptor reduction in articular cartilage of human knee joints.

Kálmán Rácz, Yonatan Segal, Kinga Lénárt, Csaba Fillér, Anna Tóth, Vince Szegeczki, Péter Gergely, Róza Zákány, Dóra Reglődi, Tamás Juhász

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kálmán Rácz *Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Yonatan Segal *Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Kinga LénártDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Csaba FillérDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Anna TóthDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Vince SzegeczkiDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Péter GergelyDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Róza ZákányDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
Dóra ReglődiDepartment of Anatomy, Medical School, HUN-REN-PTE PACAP Research Team, University of Pécs, Szigeti Út 12, 7624, Pécs, Hungary.
Tamás JuhászDepartment of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Krt. 98, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary. juhaszt@anat.med.unideb.hu.ORCID 0000-0003-0489-5676

Funding

Magyar Tudományos Akadémia HUN-REN TKI14016Magyar Tudományos Akadémia K135457Magyar Tudományos Akadémia National Brain Research Program NAP3Magyar Tudományos Akadémia NKFIHK139396Magyar Tudományos Akadémia TKP2021-EGA-32
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide expressed in the nervous system and also in various peripheral tissues, including the musculoskeletal system. PACAP has an important function in the regulation of chondrogenesis and plays a protective role in cartilage oxidative and mechanical stress. PACAP knockout (KO) mice show early signs of aging and osteoarthritis in knee joint articular cartilage. Its specific, most potent receptor is the PAC1 receptor, the activation of which leads to enhanced Sox9 expression and subsequently, it increases the expression of collagen type II, glucosaminoglycans and aggrecan. In the present study, we investigated articular cartilage of human knee joints taken from cadavers of varying ages. Thickness and extracellular matrix content of articular cartilage of knee joints decreases with aging. The cartilage degeneration process most likely begins between the ages of 40 to 50. Expression of PAC1 receptor decreases in parallel with the reduction of cartilage thickness, leading to subsequent reduced Sox9 expression with cartilage specific matrix production. In summary, we found correlation in the reduction of cartilage thickness and quality together with PAC1 receptor expression and activity.

Indexed as

AgingCartilage, ArticularKnee JointOsteoarthritis, KneeReceptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type IAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSOX9 Transcription FactorReceptors, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide, Type ISOX9 Transcription FactorCartilage degradationCartilage thicknessOsteoarthritisPAC1 receptorSox9

Identifiers

PMID40369255
PMCPMC12972452

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.