VCAN and osteoarthritis: In the study by Karlsson et al [32], several genes, including growth factors (IGF1, FGF2, LTBP1, POSTN), matrix components (TNC, ASPN, VCAN, ECM1, COL6A2), and inflammatory components (IL8, CCL2, CXCL14) were upregulated in the diseased cartilage from patients with osteoarthritis compared to the cartilage from normal patients.