Osteoarthritis is an active disease in which chondrocytes (the cells of cartilage) show increased and altered activity which promote cartilage breakdown. It is the most common joint disease and a major cause of pain and disability affecting more than 50% of the population above the age of 55. At present, treatments are suboptimal and the condition often progresses to considerable disability which may necessitate joint replacement. These researchers have shown that the change in chondrocyte function is due partly to the loss of a protective response against the mechanical forces in the joint. This study aims to discover why cartilage no longer protects the joint in osteoarthritis and whether it is possible to alter chondrocyte function. This work has the potential to lead to novel therapies for osteoarthritis for which currently there is no satisfactory treatment.