Gibor G, et al. - Authors determined whether heparanase played a role in modulating the anabolic or catabolic responses of human articular chondrocytes. They incubated the primary chondrocytes with pro-heparanase and catabolic and anabolic gene expression was evaluated by quantitative PCR. Findings suggested that in osteoarthritic cartilage, heparanase was active and catabolic responses were induced by it in primary human chondrocytes. The release of soluble growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was responsible for this response, at least in part.