Proteoglycans from human articular cartilage: the effect of joint location on the structure.

Proteoglycan monomers from the articular cartilages of the knee, hip and shoulder of 3 subjects (21, 26 and 45 years old) were isolated and analysed. The proteoglycan monomers from the high weight-bearing knee and hip joints were smaller than those from the low weight-bearing shoulder joints and both had a lower chondroitin sulphate content. The proteoglycan monomers from knee joint cartilage had the lowest intra-individual chondroitin-4-sulphate content in each case. Hyaluronate binding capacity was not found to be dependent on joint location.