FGF2 and COVID-19: CONCLUSION Pro-inflammatory cytokines, which play a crucial role in the catabolism of articular cartilage and pro-angiogenic factors VEGF, FGF-2 and PDGF, regulator of the hypoxic response HIF-1α and heat shock proteins HSP60 and HSP70 providing support for cellular homeostasis, were included in the study because of their importance in the pathogenesis of both OA and COVID-19.