Degenerative knee conditions such as chondropathy and meniscal lesions are among the most common causes of joint pain and functional impairment, and often precede the development of osteoarthritis. Despite their prevalence, the early cellular mechanisms that contribute to symptom onset and disease progression remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro biological characteristics of chondrocytes isolated from patients with chondropathy and/or meniscal lesions, comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Twenty patients aged 30–65 years were enrolled and divided into two groups: the symptomatic group included patients with pain and confirmed chondral and/or meniscal pathology, while the control group consisted of patients with similar lesions but without joint pain, presenting only mechanical symptoms. Cartilage samples were obtained during surgical procedures and treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Chondrocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion using type I collagenase and cultured in DMEM supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) and antibiotic-antimycotic mix. The cellular analysis showed significant differences between groups. Chondrocytes from symptomatic patients exhibited reduced proliferative capacity, requiring 60–80 hours to reach confluence, and began dedifferentiation into fibroblast-like cells after only 2–3 population doublings. In contrast, chondrocytes from the control group reached confluence within 28–36 hours and maintained the chondrocyte phenotype through seven passages. These findings suggest that early alterations in chondrocyte activity may be associated with the presence of pain in patients with degenerative cartilage or meniscal lesions. Identifying such biological markers could support early diagnosis, help stratify patients at higher risk of osteoarthritis progression and guide the development of personalized regenerative treatments.

Gianfilippo Caggiari received his MD from the University of Sassari, Italy, in 2014, followed by a residency in orthopedics and traumatology completed in 2019. He earned his phd in life sciences and biotechnologies in 2023. Currently, he holds the position of associate professor in locomotor system diseases at the university of Sassari. Prof. Caggiari teaches in several academic programs, including medicine and surgery, physiotherapy, nursing, and radiologic technology, covering subjects such as orthopedic surgery, biomechanics, rehabilitation medicine, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Has authored 47 publications indexed in scopus, which have received over 342 citations, and his current h-index is 11. His research focuses on degenerative joint diseases, cartilage pathology, regenerative medicine, and orthopedic surgical techniques.