 the origin and differentiation mechanism of articular chondrocytes are poorly understood. However, it has been established that articular chondrocytes differ from growth plate chondrocytes in their developmental mechanisms. In particular, NF8C1 is a key regulator of articular chondrocyte differentiation during development. It is expressed in articular chondrocyte progenitor cells, which then differentiate into mature articular chondrocytes. Furthermore, NF8C1 expression is reduced as the cells differentiate, and this reduction is associated with decreased production of the Col2a1 gene. This suggests that NF8C1 plays a role in controlling the differentiation of articular chondrocytes by regulating the expression of the Col2a1 gene. This article was authored by Fan Zhong, Yuan Yuan Wang, Ying Jiao, and others.