An intron polymorphism of the fibronectin gene is associated with end-stage knee osteoarthritis in a Han Chinese population: Two independent case-control studies

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex disease involving both biomechanical and metabolic factors that alter the tissue homeostasis of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The catabolic activities of extracellular matrix degradation products, especially fibronectin (FN), have been implicated in mediating cartilage degradation.